The Dutch West India Company settled a large parcel of land in the eastern United States, which in the 1600's became known as New Netherland. The borders of New Netherland would have stretched, in modern times, from southern Delaware through New Jersey and east-central Pennsylvania into eastern and central New York, including Long Island and Manhattan. The Dutch influence on these areas is still felt today, and many towns and cities in the U.S. were named after the towns from which the Dutch settlers had emigrated.

The Bowery, New York: named after the Dutch bouwerij or boerderij, meaning the farm.

Block Island, Rhode Island: named after the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block in 1614.

The Bronx, New York: one of the earliest settlers in New Netherland was Jonas Bronck. Bronck had a farm just north of Manhattan and people travelling in this area spoke of "going to the Broncks'." The name of the area was anglicized after 1664.

Brooklyn, New York: the original Dutch settlement on Long Island was named Breuckelen after the town in the Netherlands.

Cape May, New Jersey: Named after the sea captain and first governor of New Netherland, Cornelis Jacobsz May.

Catskill, New York and Pennsylvania: A Dutch map from 1656 calls this area "Kats Kill," kats meaning lions, tigers, cats, etc., and kill meaning stream or creek.

Cobleskill, New York: or Coble's stream after Jacob Kobell, an early Dutch settler.

Coney Island, New York: derives its name from the Dutch Conyne Eylandt, or rabbit island.

Drenthe, Michigan: named after the Dutch province.

East River, New York: A Dutch map from 1656 refers to the river as the Oost Rivier, or East River. At that time, the Hudson river was known as the Noort Rivier or North River and the Delaware River was known as the Zuydt Rivier or South River.

Fish Kill, New York: an anglicization of the Dutch vischers kill, or fisher's stream.

Flushing, New York: the original Dutch settlement on Long Island was named Vlissingen after the Dutch harbor town. The British had long referred to Vlissingen as Flushing, and after 1664 the English name was adopted.

Gramercy, New York: this Long Island district took its name from colloquial Dutch krom-marisje, or crooked marsh.

Gravesend, New York: named after the Dutch city Gravesant.

Greenwich, New York: from the Dutch greenwyck or "pine area."

Harlem, New York: named after the important Dutch city Haarlem. Local residents resisted British attempts to rename the town Lancaster.

Hells Gate, New York: after the Dutch equivalent Helle Gadt, so-named because of the dangerous tidal currents.

Hempstead, New York: after the Dutch city Heemstede.

Hoboken, New Jersey: named after the village Hoboken, which was formerly in the United Provinces (forerunner of the present-day Netherlands) and now is found in northern Belgium.

Lansing, Michigan: named after the prominent Dutch Lansing family.

Long Island, New York: named by Adriaen Block 't Lange Eylandt--the long island.

Nassau County, New York: named after the Dutch Prince of Orange-Nassau.

Rhode Island: 't Roode Eylandt, or red island, found on a map drawn by Dutch explorer Adriaen Block.

Sandy Hook, New Jersey: after the Dutch Sant Punt or sand point, but Hoek, or hook, was also commonly used.

Saugerties, New York: after the Dutch Zagers Killetje or Zagers' stream. Zagers was the first Dutch settler on the stream.

Saybrook, Connecticut: after the port in northern Belgium, Zeebroeck, or sea river.

Schuylkill, New York and Pennsylvania: after the Dutch schuilplaats--the hiding place, referring to an early incident in which a Swedish ship lay hidden in the stream, or kill, hence Schuylkill.

Staten Island, New York: a Dutch map refers to the island as "Staten Eylandt," after the Dutch States-General, the predecessor of the current Dutch parliament.

Swanwyck, Delaware: named after the Dutch Swaenewyck, or swan place.

Tarrytown, New York: a Dutch settler established a wheat mill at the point where the Pocantico empties into the Hudson River. The settlement became known as tarwe town--tarwe is the Dutch word for wheat.

Teaneck, New Jersey: possibly of two origins, one after the Dutch family Ten Eyck, or after the Dutch Tiende Neck, meaning tenth curve (in the Hackensack River.)

Wallabout Bay, New York: from the Dutch Waalen Boogt meaning the Walloon's Curve.