Wouter van Twiller

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New Netherland series Colonies: New Amsterdam New Haarlem Noortwyck Beverwyck Wiltwyck Vlissingen Middelburgh Heemstede Rustdorp Gravesende Breuckelen New Amersfoort Midwout New Utrecht Boswyck Swaanendael New Amstel Altena Fortresses: Fort Amsterdam Fort Nassau (North) Fort Orange Fort Nassau (South) Fort Goede Hoop Fort Casimir Fort Altena Fort Wilhelmus Fort Beversreede Fort Nya Korsholm The Patroon System Rensselaerwyck Colen Donck (Yonkers, New York) Directors-General of New Netherland: Cornelius Jacobsen Mey (1620-1625) Willem Verhulst (1625-26) Peter Minuit (1626-33) Wouter van Twiller (1633-38) Willem Kieft (1638-47) Peter Stuyvesant (1647-64) Influential people Adriaen van der Donck Kiliaen van Rensselaer Brant van Slichtenhorst Cornelis van Tienhoven

Wouter van Twiller (Nijkerk, May 22, 1606 - 1654) was an employee of the Dutch West India Company and the director-general of the Dutch colony of New Netherland from 1633 until 1638. During that time he lived in New Amsterdam, the largest settlement in the colony, which later became New York City. During his term in office Van Twiller purchased what is now Governors Island from a tribe of Indians. During his time in office, settlers from New England wrested away the Connecticut Valley, but he was able to defend the Dutch territory in Delaware, where his soldiers captured a shipload of intending settlers from Virginia. Despite his inability to manage the affairs of New Netherland properly, he was able through shrewd and cunning dealing and the general increase in the prosperity of the Colony, to accumulate a private fortune. He returned to Holland in 1637.

Preceded by Peter Minuit

Director-General of New Netherland 1633—1638

Succeeded by Willem Kieft

• This article incorporates text from an edition of the New International Encyclopedia that is in the public domain.