Manhattan and the Original New York The original Netherlands, in 1661, had approximately 1,500 people living in “New Amsterdam,” the original name for New York City.[1] These people included tavern keepers, shop owners, soldiers, farmers, and sailors. New Amsterdam was a far-off outpost of the Netherlands. New Amsterdam was wary of Native American attacks because it had been violently assaulted multiple times by native Americans previously.[2] New Amsterdam had as much wat