New York City originated as a Dutch trading settlement. Historian Jon Townsend explores Dutch food originating among the Dutch in New York, starting with Henry Hudson, in a 21-minute YouTube video posted on January 25, 2025.

Townsend begins with the history of the New Amsterdam trading post that bacame New York in 1664 after the English captured the Dutch settlement. The city was temporarily renamed New York to honor the Duke of York, who was granted the land by King Charles II. It was permanently renamed New York in 1674. 

Even though the settlement was now English, it retained much of the early Dutch influence on cuture and food that persisted well into the 18th century and down to the present day.

(Above) The preparation of several of the recipes is featured in the video. Click here for another of Jon’s videos.