Over the past several years, I have been working on a book about a remarkable woman named Catalyntje Trico. Her story is the stirring account of a brave young woman who leaves her home during the Spanish Inquisition in 1623 and follows an unexpected path to the unique colony of New Netherland, led by the Dutch. Once there, she experiences backbreaking work, death, loneliness, love, and triumphs. 

Catalyntje’s story opens a window into what life was like in New Netherland, a colony remarkably different from those established by the English then. As her story unfolds, it becomes apparent that Catalyntje was the only European to experience every single day the colony existed. She was on the first ship of colonists to land on its shores and was still there on the day the British took over forty years later. Catalyntje’s poignant story, filled with courage, determination, and love, helps us recognize the impact our lives can have on others for generations.