Second flotilla to visit Catskill and Coxsackie
Hudson’s anniversary marked with arrival of Dutch ships
The Daily Mail
Sept. 1, 2009

CATSKILL — The actual 400th Anniversary of Henry Hudson’s sail through the region is coming in mid-September — and so is a fleet of Dutch flat bottomed boats.

This parade of ships is being sponsored by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ NY400 project and is organized in partnership with the Dutch “Stichting ter Promotie van het Traditionele Schip” (Foundation to Promote Traditional Ships, or S.P.T.S.) according to the Henry Hudson 400 Foundation. The Foundation has organized several events in New York and the Netherlands to celebrate Hudson’s voyage.

According to the Foundation, the 19 low-slung “skutsjes,” or cargo boats, fishing boats and barges participating in the flotilla are direct descendants of ships that could be seen along Dutch coastlines in the 17th century.

The ships left Amsterdam, Holland, Aug. 20 and are scheduled to arrive in New York City today. They will linger Downstate, visiting waterfront communities in Westchester County and on Long Island, as well as New York City harbors until Sept. 14.

The flotilla will leave New York City Sept. 14 and is scheduled to arrive in Albany Sept. 20. But between Sept. 18 and Sept. 20, boats from the flotilla will be anchored in Catskill and Coxsackie.

Henry Hudson and his crew sailed the Half Moon into the mouth of the river that now bears his name on Sept. 12, 1609. On Sept. 15-16, the crew stopped near Catskill, then proceeded north, nearly reaching Albany before turning around and returning to New York Bay.

Local officials said celebrations will be planned for when the boats drop anchor.

Catskill Village President Vincent Seeley said the village will welcome the boats, although with a smaller celebration than was held for the arrival of the Half Moon on River Day in June.

“I think it is another great historic moment for the Village of Catskill,” Seeley said of the planned visit.

Village of Coxsackie Mayor Mark Evans said the anticipated stop in Coxsackie would be great because the June flotilla did not come to his community.

Coxsackie Town Supervisor Alex Betke said it would be exciting to have the types of ships that sailed during the time of Henry Hudson come to Coxsackie.

“It is a great community event for us all to get together and utilize our beautiful Riverfront Park,” he said.

Betke said a celebration in Coxsackie would be planned.

The flotilla will also make stops in Nyack, Peekskill, Cold Spring and Kingston, according to the Henry Hudson 400 Foundation.