A new series focused on people creating art and literature inspired by New Netherland history Interview with Chad Muhlestein Chad is a hobbyist woodworker from North Carolina. Inspired by his connection to Rapalje ancestry and New Netherland history, he has made a beautiful reconstruction of Sarah Rapalje’s chair, the original of which is in the Museum of the City of New York's archives. Chad and I became acquainted just after my book was published last year. He messaged me t

A new series focused on people creating art and literature inspired by New Netherland history Interview with Airco Caravan Netherlands-born conceptual artivist Airco Caravan (New York/Amsterdam), has exhibited internationally, and founded and curated fundraiser exhibitions for women’s rights. Caravan uses her sometimes provocative art to fight racism, misogyny, and inequality. Airco and I recently became acquainted after my Book Talk with the New Amsterdam History Center. Her

Everyone judges a book by its cover, despite the old adage warning us not to. In reality, it's a high stakes component to get "right," to grab people's attention, entice them to read the blurb, and decide they want to read the book. If you don't know, I'm a professional designer with a Bachelors in Fine Art. I've worked in graphics, jewelry, furniture, packaging, and currently I design flatware and cutlery. Design is my wheelhouse... so, I bucked ALL advice against it, and I

Reading through the Dutch documents—which miraculously have survived ~400 years, fire damage, and neglect—is like time traveling. They're...

Lana Waite Holden is the author of Catalyntje Trico: A Life in New Amsterdam , a deeply researched historical fiction novel about the...

Browse all titles here on my bookshop.org page where you can buy from independent booksellers. Historical Fiction: Catalyntje Trico: A...

In 1620, Jessé acutely felt the weight of expectations and a pang of jealousy in his heart as he watched the Mayflower depart. He and his...

1. The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto Narrative non-fiction at its best. Pre-recquosite reading. It tells the...

My novel revolves around Sarah Rapalje, but at times, the story follows people connected to Sarah and their experiences of New Amsterdam...

What do the Revolutionary War, the founding of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and Brooklyn records from the Dutch days going missing have in...

Not really Catalyna- but how I imagine her in her later years- Midjourney rendering in the style of Vermeer from Reddit user Dierky Catalyna is an iconic OG (original grandmother) to millions. I don't know if a single blog post can scratch the surface. A whole book devoted to her would be appropriate... more on that in a future post. Catalyna Trico (sometimes called Catalyntje/Catalina/Tryntje/Catelyn with surname Tricot/Triko, Tricault) was born July 14 (?) 1605 in Prisches,

In honor of Father's Day- this post is about Sarah's dad. In the previous What is a Walloon post, I described how Joris was born...

Born in 1625—Sarah Rapalje is the first child of European ancestry born in New Netherland—the Dutch colony that included parts of states...

I Introduced this term in my first post. It's the cultural and ethnic identity of several main characters in my novel, Salt People of the...

Based on the real life of an inaugural American woman determined to not only survive, but thrive, in the days when Manhattan was...