During the 17th century, colonists from the Southern Netherlands (the area of modern-day Belgium) lived in several of the Thirteen Colonies of North America. Settlements already existed in New York — in Wallabout (Brooklyn), on Long Island and Staten Island—and New Jersey (Hoboken, Jersey City, Pavonia, Communipaw, and Wallkill).
During the 17th century, colonists from Southern Netherlands (modern-day Belgium) established settlements in several of the Thirteen Colonies of North America. These included existing settlements in New York at Wallabout (Brooklyn), Long Island, and Staten Island, as well as New Jersey's Hoboken, Jersey City, Pavonia, Communipaw, and Wallkill.