Our Shared Story

Back in 1776, before the world recognized the new United States, the Dutch island of Statia saluted the American flag on the ship Andrew Doria as it entered the harbor to buy arms for the Revolution, carrying a copy of the Declaration of Independence.

That moment captures the spirit of a four-century partnership between the United States and the Netherlands.

Our connection runs far deeper than geopolitical convenience. Long before the United States was formed, Dutch explorers and settlers helped lay the foundations for American civic life, transforming New Amsterdam into modern-day New York City.

The early Dutch Republic pioneered ideas that directly inspired America’s founding thinkers, ideals like religious tolerance, open commerce, constitutional checks and balances, and individual liberty.

That bond was tested and deepened in the darkest days of World War II. When the Netherlands was occupied, American soldiers helped liberate Dutch towns and villages, often at great personal cost.

To this day, the Netherlands holds a profound sense of gratitude for that sacrifice, symbolized most powerfully at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, where Dutch families have adopted the graves of fallen US service members, tending to them with care across generations. Those rows of white crosses and stars are a lasting reminder that our shared values were defended together.

Today, our shared history has evolved into a dynamic modern alliance built on constant cultural, academic, and economic exchange. As the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, the Netherlands stands ready to navigate the uncertainties of a changing world through values we have always shared.