While we all think of North America as the former colonial domain of the English, Spanish and French, few people remember that the tiny nation of Holland was also a major colonial power at the same time. Even fewer people know that the Dutch were the original colonizers of what is now New York.

Of course they weren’t there for long. But they were there long enough to leave several Dutch names in the geographic and political landscape. One such place is Amsterdam New York. No, not New Amsterdam, which was New York’s original name, but simply Amsterdam.

Amsterdam New York, is a small community of roughly 20,000 people who live a sensible and modest life, not giving into the stress and the pressure of their significantly larger and former co-named city. Of course this suits the folks here just fine.

Amsterdam’s Proximity to New York has blessed it with many economic and cultural advantages without many of the drawbacks that plague a major city. If you live in Amsterdam and you want to go see a play, just head to New York, and best of all you don’t have to be worried about being mugged when you get home. So check out the Dutch heritage city of Amsterdam New York, it is very cool.