Ancient history

What languages were spoken in 17th century New Amsterdam?

The main languages spoken in 17th century New Amsterdam (present day New York City) were:

- Dutch: The official language of New Amsterdam was Dutch, as the city was a colony of the Dutch Republic.

- English: English was spoken by many of the settlers in New Amsterdam, and it eventually became the dominant language in the city.

- French: French was spoken by some of the settlers in New Amsterdam, many of whom were Huguenots (French Protestants who fled to the Netherlands to escape religious persecution).

- Spanish: Spanish was spoken by some of the settlers in New Amsterdam, as the Netherlands and Spain had close trading relations at the time.

- Native American languages: There were also various Native American languages spoken in the area around New Amsterdam, such as the languages of the Lenape and Mohawk peoples.