This digital collection consists of extremely diverse materials. It comprises a few thousand digital images in all, which together form an impression of the life led by Dutch people in America.

The collection touches on a variety of subjects. Complete rare contemporary books describe the complicated political situation in New Netherland. Unique manuscripts and drawings depict the personal experiences and impressions of travellers and of the new inhabitants of the New World. Maps show how limited the knowledge of the region actually was.

Most of the objects come from the collection of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek and the Library of Congress. In addition there are objects from the Nationaal Archief (Netherlands National Archives), the Gemeentearchief Amsterdam (the Amsterdam Municipal Archives), the Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdam (the Netherlands Maritime Museum Amsterdam) and the Artisbibliotheek van de Bibliotheek van de Universiteit van Amsterdam (The Artis Library of the Library of the University of Amsterdam). Together they form an entirely new digital collection that is accessible to a broad public.