An international flotilla of ships, including a replica of the Dutch-funded Halve Maen (half moon), will sail into New York harbour on Tuesday to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of explorer Henry Hudson.

Crown prince Willem-Alexander and princess Máxima will join US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and New York mayor Michael Bloomberg to welcome the ships, at the start of a week-long celebration of the Dutch-New York link.
Hudson left Amsterdam on the Halve Maen in April 1609 looking for a northern passage to Asia. He arrived on the river that bears his name five months later. Hudson’s expedition was paid by the Dutch East India Company (VOC), which went on to establish a trading post on the island of Manhattan.
The Dutch ruled what they called New Amsterdam for a little over five decades before they lost it to the British in 1664. Nevertheless, their influence is still felt in the city.
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