Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
New Battery Pavilion to Celebrate New York's Dutch Roots
By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 28, 2009
Modified Sep 9, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Gothamist
View all 6
By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 28, 2009
Modified Sep 9, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
At a press conference with Dutch officials to announce plans for the joint Dutch-
American 2009 celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s arrival in New York Harbor, Mayor Bloomberg revealed a dramatic new public pavilion to be located at Peter Minuit Plaza at The Battery, designed by celebrated Dutch architect Ben van Berkel.
The 5,000 square-foot New Amsterdam Plein & Pavilion, a gift from the Netherlands Government, is to be "a dramatic space" which the city expects to draw 5 million people a year to an "outdoor living room" for spontaneous and scheduled activities, public markets, food and information. The space will be permanently erected at the Battery in late 2009, and feature an LED-adorned facade to create color-shifting light show after sundown.
The Mayor also announced plans for a "Harbor Day" celebration on September 13th to commemorate Henry Hudson's arrival aboard the Dutch vessel "Halve Maen." Bloomberg says Harbor Day will become an annual event intended to recognize the progress made in reclaiming the city's waterfront and opening harbor parks and greenways. Much more on Henry Hudson 400 here.
Tagged
battery
Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson 400
netherlands
New Amsterdam Plein & Pavilion
ny400
nyc
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
MTA should eliminate some jobs to prepare for budget woes, watchdog writes
The Citizens Budget Commission suggested eliminating one crew member from trains that are fully automated.
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Nov 2, 2026 at 12:05 a.m. ET
NYC Council to scrutinize snow removal plans as winter approaches
Lawmakers will review the city's preparations and consider a bill requiring the city to publish historical snowplowing records.
By
Catalina Gonella
News
NYC Council to scrutinize snow removal plans as winter approaches
Lawmakers will review the city's preparations and consider a bill requiring the city to publish historical snowplowing records.
By
Catalina Gonella
'The best day of the year': Inside Clinton Hill's 'mile nine' NYC marathon party
By
Stephanie Keith
November has 3 meteor showers and the best chance to see Uranus
By
Rosemary Misdary
A 'beautiful' day for a marathon, as runners, spectators pack NYC streets
By
Walter Wuthmann
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .