Henry Hudson, upon returning to The Netherlands…

Henry Hudson, upon returning to The Netherlands from North America in late 1609, had reported that he had found a fertile and fecund land and a people amicable to engaging his crew in small-scale bartering of furs, trinkets, clothes, and small manufactured goods.

His report has stimulated further interest in the prospect of exploiting this new trade resource, and is the catalyst for Dutch merchant-traders to fund more expeditions.

At least one had been made the following year, under the command of Symen Lambertsz Mau.

The Admiralty of Amsterdam had in 1611 sent a covert expedition to find a passage to China.

In four voyages made between 1611-1614, the area between present-day New Jersey and Massachusetts is explored, surveyed, and charted by Adriaen Block, Hendrick Christiaensz, and Cornelis Jacobsz May.

The results of these explorations, surveys, and charts made from 1609 through 1614 are consolidated in Block’s map, which uses the name New Netherland for the first time.

The States General, the governing body of The Netherlands, on March 17, 1614, proclaims it will grant an exclusive patent for trade between the 40th and 45th parallels.

This monopoly is to be valid four voyages, all of which has to be undertaken within three years after it is awarded.

Block's map, and the report which accompanies it, are used by The New Netherland Company (a newly formed alliance of trading companies) to win their patent, which is to expire on January 1, 1618.