Fort Nassau (North River)

Fort Nassau was the first Dutch settlement in North America, located beside the "North River" (the modern Hudson) within present-day Albany, New York, in the United States. The factorij was a small fortification which served as a trading post and warehouse. It was sited on an earlier French fortification from 1540.

History
Henry Hudson explored what would be known as the Hudson River for the Dutch in 1609, including Castle Island which was at the center of Native American fur trading routes from the interior. Castle Island was so named for the ruins of a French fortification which was dated from 1540 and had been abandoned due to flooding. Hendrick Christiaensen chose this same location to build Fort Nassau in 1614 or 1615 as a dual warehouse and military defense structure and named the fort in honor of the stadtholder of the United Netherlands, who was of the House of Orange-Nassau. This was the first Dutch settlement in North America. Jacob Eelkens became commander on Christiaensen's death in 1616.

In 1617 a freshet damaged the fort to such an extent that it was abandoned and rebuilt on more secure ground at the mouth of the Normans Kill (called the Tawasentha by the natives) with the Hudson River. This new fortification was built by Eelkens on a prominence called Tawass-gunshee by the natives. Once the new fort was completed the first treaty between natives of North America and the Dutch was concluded. In 1618 a freshet destroyed the new fort and it was abandoned for good.

Geography
Fort Nassau was built on what is now called Westerlo Island, which has been the Port of Albany-Rensselaer since 1932. The island was part of the town of Bethlehem until 1926 when it was annexed to the city of Albany.

Structure
Fort Nassau was a 36 ft long by 26 ft wide building enclosed by a 58 ft square stockade surrounded by an 18 ft wide moat. The fort was defended by two large cannon and eleven swivel guns. The fort was garrisoned by 10-12 men.