Discover the fascinating & rich history of the country of Holland, also known as The Netherlands.
The Amsterdam Weeper's Tower The Scheierstoren in Amsterdam, dating from 1480, a fortified defense tower in the harbour as part of the Amsterdam city walls.
The "Schreierstoren" ("Weeper's Tower") is a tower dating from 1480, it was part of the Amsterdam fortified walls.
On April 4, 1609, Henry Hudson departed from this spot with his vessel "Halve Maen" ("Half Moon") to the New World. Hudson was chosen by the Dutch East India Company (V.O.C.) to find an easterly passage to Asia. He was told to sail to the east around the Arctic Ocean north of Russia. Due to ice blocking passage Hudson could not complete his intended route and sailed west. He ended up into New York Harbor and proceeded up what is today the Hudson River.
His voyage established Dutch claims to the region and the fur trade that prospered there. New Amsterdam in Manhattan became the capital of New Netherland in 1625. On his return trip to Amsterdam, he stopped England and was detained by authorities there, who wanted access to his log. He managed to pass the log to the Dutch ambassador to England who sent it, along with his report, to Amsterdam.
Several memorial plaques have been placed on the tower to remember Hudson's voyage to the New World. The tower is still in use as a café.
