New Netherland

New Netherland (Dutch: Nieuw-Nederland, Latin: Novum Belgium or Nova Belgica; see below), 1614–1674, was the territory on the eastern coast of North America in the 17th century which stretched from latitude 38 to 45 degrees North as originally discovered by the Dutch East India Company with the yacht Half Moon under the command of Henry Hudson in 1609 and explored by Adriaen Block and Hendrick Christiaensz from 1611 through 1614. Their map of 1614, presented to the States General, claimed the territory as New Netherland for the Republic of the Seven United Provinces.

A private commercial venture since patents were issued by the States General in 1614, New Netherland became a province of the Dutch Republic in 1624. At that time the northern border was reduced to 42 degrees North in acknowledgment of the inevitable intrusion of the English above Cape Cod (see John Smith's 1616 map as self-anointed Admiral of New England).

According to the Law of Nations, a claim on a territory required not only discovery and charting, but also settlement. In May of 1624 the Dutch completed their claim by landing 30 Dutch families on Noten Eylant, modern Governors Island.