Most Americans don't know why the Dutch came to claim New Netherland when it was Henry Hudson, an Englishman, who first laid claim to it, even though he considered it almost inconsequential as his voyage had not achieved its sole objective. Negotiations, restrictions of trade, competing agendas and world leaders made this a period of history with many twists of the story. If Henry Hudson had not brought his writings and his cargo back home safely, history might have been very different with no New York City at all. ( )