What Did New York Look Like in 1660? Bringing New Amsterdam Back to Life

Imagine standing on the streets of lower Manhattan in the 17th century. The Dutch settlement that would one day become New York is alive with trade and voices, its harbour busy, its houses gathered along narrow lanes. This is New Amsterdam in 1660, and it is the place we are about to bring to TimeLens.

We are delighted to share that TimeLens is partnering with the New Amsterdam History Center to recreate colonial New Amsterdam exactly as it once was. Launching in July 2026, this will let you see Dutch Manhattan restored all around you, right where it actually stood.

New Amsterdam: A Dutch town beneath modern Manhattan

Centuries before the skyscrapers, New Amsterdam was a small but thriving settlement at the southern tip of Manhattan. Most people today have no idea what this Dutch town that lies beneath their feet looked like.

TimeLens opens a window onto that lost world. Several immersive locations, some with multiple panoramas, will transport you to the streets, squares and buildings of New Amsterdam exactly as they were in 1660. Standing at each viewpoint, you see the settlement restored in full, all around you.

And we're not stopping at the exteriors. You will also see beautifully detailed interiors, so you can look inside the homes of New Amsterdam and witness daily life as it unfolded.

Years of research behind every scene

These reconstructions are built on the extraordinary work of the New Amsterdam History Center and their Mapping Early New York project. They have spent years carefully researching and modelling this period: deep dives into the archives, close analysis of what survives, and detailed reconstruction of how this Dutch settlement actually looked and functioned.

It is their models that will unfold around you in TimeLens, each one grounded in genuine historical research.

People drawn from 17th century Dutch paintings

One detail we love: all of the figures you see in the scenes are taken directly from 17th century Dutch paintings. The merchants, families and passers by who fill New Amsterdam are not invented. They step out of the art of the period itself, some real people. It is a wonderful touch that roots every moment in the world it portrays.

Narration by Russell Shorto

The audio descriptions are voiced by Russell Shorto, author of Taking Manhattan and The Island at the Center of the World, and curator of the exhibition Old Masters, New Amsterdam at The New York Historical. For us a great honour to have an author who's books we have read and discussed throughout the year to be a part of this project. His narration guides you through each scene, connecting what you see to the people and events that shaped early New York.

Launching in July 2026

TimeLens and the New Amsterdam History Center launches in July 2026. We will share details about the launch event soon. If you are in New York City, or planning to visit, this will be a truly special way to discover the city's earliest chapter where it actually happened.

Honouring remarkable work

We are deeply impressed by the New Amsterdam History Center's dedication. They have preserved and reconstructed a crucial piece of New York history that most people today have no idea exists beneath their feet. We are honoured to partner with them to make that research visible, to bring those stories to life, and to help New Yorkers and visitors connect with their city's fascinating past.

Our special thanks to Toya Dubin, Vanessa B. Sellers, and Eduard van Dijk for making this possible.