The treaty of Breda was the first bad deal for Nieuw Amsterdamers. It ceded Nieuw Amsterdam to the English (who promptly changed the name to New York) and cancelled the Dutch influence. The Netherlands got Surinam and Guyana to replace us. Bad deal. Very bad deal.
The English promptly cancelled the Dutch preceders. Sure, there's probably a statue of Peter Stuyvesant. There's Stuyvesant Place and the school. What is left? Roosevelt Island? Sure, he's of Dutch descent. But thanks to the 24-hour newscycle of nonsense, most people believe he is actually Rosevelt--of Jewish descent. Theodore Roosevelt got cancelled too, because of his imperialistic ways. But what of the other Dutch? Where are the Dutch streets, the Dutch infrastructure? Tappan Zee Bridge got cancelled.
Are there statues to Vanderbilts? Beekman (there was a hospital but no one connects it with any Dutch family and the hospital has probably been cancelled too. Instead of Duane Street, rename it to Minuit. Instead of Reade, van Buren.
Dutch was predominantly spoken in New York State until the first World War. When the US constitution was written, it was translated into Dutch. New York's African-American's spoke Dutch as their first language. During the time of the Revolutionary War, English commentators remarked on how New York was more a "conquered foreign province" than part of the English colonies. Even after the Revolutionary War, it was noted how poorly New Yorkers spoke English. New Yorkers spoke Dutch, worshipped in Dutch language churches, and in some counties, only spoke Dutch. Even in Albany, Dutch was the primary language.
Can we redo the Treaty of Breda? Let's go back to the Netherlands. All is forgiven. In the Netherlands, the government funds the schools and they are of high quality. The focus on elementary school is gaining literacy and numeracy--without assigning homework. Children's social and emotional skills are valued. As is independence. After kindergarten, children are expected to independently arrive at school--cycling or walking. By the time they are in fifth grade, they are expected to find their way to summer camp, with nothing more than a flashlight, a bottle of water, and an energy bar. No tech at all. And of course, the Netherlands has a highly efficient, affordable, universal health care system.
The Netherlands is on top of climate change too. Like NYC, they are bound by bodies of water. They have built levees, fortified bridges, etc. They are prepared for all those once in 100 years floods.
Wouldn't you rather be part of the Netherlands than the United States? Wouldn't you rather joint Dutch/US citizenship? What do we get for our taxes? No health care. Great schools in the upper-middle class regions, poor ones everywhere else (because property taxes fund our schools, and impoverished areas lack the tax base.
I see a hand up back there--yes. You are a member of the Lenape tribe and you protest being cancelled. You want Mannahatta restored to what is was prior to the Dutch? When Foley Square was an oyster midden and the island cultivated fields bound by waters teeming with trout, oysters, and other shellfish? When Times Square was part of a forest rampart with beavers, otters, minks, and bears? Can we at least keep the ferries running to Pagganck and Aquehonge Manacknong Islands though?