06/12/2026
TimeLens Partners with New Amsterdam History Center on a cell phone application to launch in July.
Imagine standing on the streets of lower Manhattan in the 17th century. The Dutch settlement that would eventually become New York is bustling with life. Immersive locations with multiple panoramas will transport you to the streets, squares, and buildings of New Amsterdam exactly as they were. But we're not stopping at the exteriors. We'll show beautifully detailed interiors, so you can step inside homes and witness daily life as it unfolded in 1660.
New Amsterdam History Center’s Mapping Early New York has spent years meticulously researching and modelling this historical period. Our work includes deep dives into archives, careful analysis of what remains, and detailed reconstructions of how this Dutch settlement actually looked and functioned. TimeLens will make our 3D models unfold around you, and audio descriptions by Russell Shorto, author of Taking Manhattan and The Island at the Center of the World and curator of the exhibit Old Masters, New Amsterdam at the New York Historical bring it all to life! Many of the people you see are taken directly from 17th century Dutch paintings, a marvelous detail!
TimeLens X New Amsterdam History Center will be launching in July! We’ll share details about the launch event soon. If you're in New York City or planning to visit, this is will be a truly special experience.
New Amsterdam History Center is dedicated to reconstructing a crucial piece of New York history. We're honored to partner with TimeLens 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. Thanks to Halbgewachs, Halbgewachs, B. Sellers, Shorto and van Dijk for making this possible.
