Empire State of Mind: Russell Shorto on the Dutch Roots of New York

New York City was once just a small Dutch outpost called New Amsterdam. How did a modest trading colony become the global icon it is today? Join us for a deep dive with acclaimed historian Russell Shorto, who has spent decades uncovering the Dutch origins of America’s financial and cultural capital.

In this conversation on 2 April 2025 in the E-Hall, we’ll explore how Dutch merchants and liberal ideals laid the foundation for New York’s enduring spirit of tolerance, trade, and cosmopolitanism. We’ll uncover forgotten voices—Indigenous, African, and European settlers—whose stories have been erased from mainstream history.

From Manhattan’s first skyscrapers to Wall Street’s earliest deals, we’ll connect the dots between the city’s 17th-century Dutch DNA and its modern identity. Is today’s New York still carrying the legacy of its founding ideals, or has it evolved into something entirely different?

© Photo by Izzy Watson