Wouter van Twiller

Wouter van Twiller was a Dutch landowner and entrepreneur who became one of the wealthiest landowners in New Netherland.

An employee of the Dutch West India Company, van Twiller was appointed the director-general of New Netherland (1633-1638) because of his acquaintance with its geography and the condition of affairs. On that post he succeeded Peter Minuit who was recalled to Amsterdam from unknown reasons.

During his governorship the Dutch have lost Connecticut after the English arrived and simply seized the lands with immigrants (1633). The fur trade with the indigenous people was enlarged, as well as commercial relations with the New England settlements.

Van Twiller used his position also to improve his material position, and at the end of his service in 1638, he was a wealthy man. His wealth was generated through his entrepreneurship in developing lands, establishing farms and shrewd management of his properties. He bought vast tracts of land, including Governor’s and Blackwell’s Islands and launched livestock breeding becoming one of the wealthiest land-owners in the colony.

However, his gains caused outrage of his advisers who complained to the authorities of the Dutch West India Company in Amsterdam. Consequently, Van Twiller was removed from the office in 1637 on charges that he abused his powers and was succeeded by Willem Kieft. He returned to Holland.