My journey to Nieuw Amsterdam

One day in the spring of 1655 my parents told me we were going to Nieuw Amsterdam. We were to travel there by boat, they said. This was to happen in a week’s time. I was told that in Nieuw Amsterdam we would have a better life. A week later the boat arrived at the docks, it was a huge sailboat with humongous white sails. It would take us across the Atlantic ocean to Nieuw Amsterdam. We were at sea for 2 months, it was a difficult journey but I was excited to begin my new life, this time a better one. We had left Amsterdam thinking that in Nieuw Amsterdam we will not be treated badly because we are jewish.

Before my family decided to move to Nieuw Amsterdam, we lived in Amsterdam where there was a large jewish community. I lived there for the first five years of my life. I really missed Amsterdam when we first came to Nieuw Amsterdam, but now after restrictions for Jews were lifted if feel different, I feel like this is my home. I love taking walks to the water to watch the sailboats come to the docks and look at the newcomers.

To read the rest of Ruth's adventures, check out my New Amsterdam portfolio! Make sure you enlarge it to get the full experience.