NEW AMSTERDAM: the musical. Music and lyrics by Billy Eric ©2021

Written by Billy Eric in 2019, this musical is all about the Dutch foundation of New York City.

The story starts in 1602 when the Dutch East India (V.O.C.) is formed. They hired Henry Hudson in 1608 and gave him a ship called the Halve Maen.

There is a narrator who tells the tale, introducing us to a host of people that made up New Amsterdam. They include Peter Minuit, who purchased the island for $24 and the peg-legged Peter Stuyvesant. There is Adrean van der Donck, for whom the City of Yonkers gets its name and Killean van Renssaelaar, which is where Rennselaarswyck gets its name. There's Catelina Trico and Joris Rapalje and a whole lot more.

The tale ends in 1664 when the British take New Amsterdam and rename it for the Duke of York: New York.

V.O.C. directors/company/audience participation. The V.O.C. is formed and introduced to us all

Henry Hudson - The year is 1608 and Hudson has come to Holland to meet with the V.O.C. about a job

V.O.C. directors/Hudson/Hudson's crew. The V.O.C. give Hudson a small ship called the Halve Maen (Half Moon) and send him on a mission to find a passage to the Far East.

Hudson/crew.  Hudson is hired to find a Northern passage to the Far East, but Hudson sails South instead

Hudson/crew. The crew, having been informed by Hudson they will disobey their orders, are well aware the Dutch will not be happy. Hudson is quite sure he knows where to find this passage.

Hudson/crew. While the initial mission was a failure, stumbling on to Manhatta Island would turn out to be a worthy prize. One worthy enough for Hudson's name on a river perhaps.     (audio demo below)

Hudson/V.O.C. directors.  Once Hudson was sure his discovery was not to be, he turned back for Holland. No passage to the Far East, but a great harbor, several islands, a river and lots of beavers. The V.O.C.. liked what they heard and sent teams to chart the landscape and carve New Nederland. Next step: entice pioneers to the new world.

Catalina Trico/Joris Rapalje. The year is 1623 and Catelina and Joris have gotten married in Amsterdam. Joris booked a cruise for their honeymoon: one way tickets to the new world.       (audio demo below) 

Willem Verhulst/company. The year is now 1625 and the city is starting to take shape. Fort Amsterdam is built and new streets       (audio demo below) 

Peter Minuit/company. Peter Minuit replaces Verhulst as director. The colony is growing and with it, problems. Minuit purchases the island from the Indians and New Amsterdam is born.

Peter Minuit/company/Indians.  The legend of the $24 purchase of Manhatta from the Indians

 company.  The theme song and the melody heard throughout the show          (audio demo below) 

 Willem Kieft/company. Willem Kieft arrives in New Amsterdam and serves as director from 1638 to 1647 

 Adrean van der Donck/company. Adrean arrives in New Amsterdam in 1641, having studied law in Leiden. He will shape the New Amsterdam colony more than anyone. For now, he has a look around the town       (audio demo below)  

Adrean van der Donck/Killean van Renssaelaar/Willem Kieft. Van Der Donck has come to New Amsterdam for a job with Renssaelaar. He will put his law skills to good use.

Jaap the broodbaker/Jan the meat man/Leentje the vogelvrouw/VOC soldiers/meisjes/brothel madam. This is a slice of life in New Amsterdam        (audio demo below) 

Mauel de Gerrit/company. Mauel de Gerrit was one of 11 slaves brought to New Amsterdam. This is his story          (audio demo below) 

Willem Kieft/council members/townsfolk. The advisory council of 12 men is formed by Kieft to hear the townsfolk complaints

prostitutes/sailors. As night falls on New Amsterdam, the port areas come alive as the meisjes of the night come out.

sailor/Catelina Trico. As all the sailors disappear behind closed doors, a lonely sailor happens upon Catelina Trico. Not knowing she's married, he thinks she's one of the meisjes of the night.

Catelina Trico/Joris Rapalje. After having  been propositioned, Catelina reaffirms her love for Joris. When Joris comes walking along, he joins in proclaiming his love for Catelina

Willem Kieft/council members. Director Kieft has a problem with the Indians. He doesn't want them around and escalates his intolerance into an all out war.

Peter Stuyvesant/company. After Kieft's war, which left the colony a mess, the Dutch West India Company replaced Kieft with Peter Stuyvesant. This is in 1647.

4 male townsfolk. the men are talking about how the new director Stuyvesant is forming an advisory council of 9 men. They're hoping it does better than the council of 12 men Kieft formed, but never listened to..

instrumental dance - Adrean van der Donck petitioned the Dutch Staaten Generaal to take control of New Amsterdam away from the West India Company. They did and in 1653 New Amsterdam gets its official charter..

Adrean van der Donck/Peter Stuyvesant/company. Trying to keep invaders out, Stuyvesant had a 14 foot wall built on the Singel Straat        (audio demo below) 

townsfolk . Another look at life in the evolving colony. The canals are quite smelly as are the tanning pits. There is much to clean up.

Asser Levy/Jewish refugees/company. Twenty-three Jewish refugees arrive in 1654 but Stuyvesant doesn't want to let them in. Adrean sails back to Holland to file a complaint on their behalf. The Jewish refugees are allowed to settle in New Amsterdam

Conraet ten Eyck/Antje ten Eyck. Conraedt is a cobbler and has a tanning pit over by the Heere Gracht canal. The tanning pits smell awful, so they are being relocated North of the Wall

Catelina Trico. Catalina looks back on her life, starting with her marriage at 19 in 1623. Catalina gave birth to the first child in the new world. If you come across Rapelye Street in Brooklyn, that's where the farm land was that Catalina and Joris bought in 1637

Peter Stuyvesant/company. Stuyvesant looks back on his years as director and the colony. Having no army to fight, Stuyvesant handed New Amsterdam to the British in 1664

company. A reprise of the theme song. A final nod to the Dutch foundation, from 1625 to 1664