Four rival families cross the ocean to claim their place in New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam, 1653. Freshly granted city rights, the colony stands at the crossroads of trade, ambition, and opportunity, on the edge of an untamed wilderness.
As ships arrive from Europe, four powerful families step onto the docks, each driven by wealth, legacy, power, or domination. In a city where fortunes rise and fall with the tide, alliances shift quickly, and only the most cunning will shape the future of New Amsterdam.
Family De Vries
Master of political influence
Princes Graft No.12 - Blue
For the De Vries family, wealth alone has never been enough. Power is the true prize. With deep connections to the Dutch West India Company, they arrived in New Amsterdam not to build quietly, but to rule from the shadows of the council chamber.
Hendrik De Vries, a master strategist, quickly embedded himself in the colony’s leadership, shaping trade laws and policies to favor his interests. His influence reaches far beyond the harbour, some claim his authority is reinforced by powerful allies back in the Netherlands.
But power breeds resentment. Rivals whisper that the De Vries grip on the colony is too strong, too absolute. In New Amsterdam, politics is a dangerous game, and the De Vries family intends not just to play it, but to dominate it.
Family Van Rijn
Old money in a new world
Hoogh Straat No.24 - Red
The Van Rijn family did not cross the ocean in search of fortune, they came to preserve it. A noble house with deep roots in old Amsterdam, they see New Amsterdam as an extension of their legacy, not a gamble.
Unlike the other families clawing their way upward, the Van Rijns believe they were born to rule. Their name still commands respect, their reputation opening doors others cannot. Yet beneath the polished exterior, cracks begin to show.
Some say their wealth is dwindling, that their influence rests more on history than on coin. In a city that rewards ambition over ancestry, the Van Rijns face a dangerous question: will they adapt to the new world, or watch their legacy fade with the tide?
Family Ten Hove
Relentless ambition
Heere Graft No.31 - Purple
While other families seek wealth or power, the Ten Hoves pursue something far more dangerous: domination. Pieter Ten Hove is a ruthless businessman, known for crushing competitors in Amsterdam long before setting his sights on the New World.
Rumors surround his arrival. Some claim he fled to escape scandal, others whisper of debts left unpaid. Whatever the truth, one thing is certain, in New Amsterdam, the Ten Hove family expands aggressively, through strategic marriages, risky investments, and sheer force of will.
They do not respect tradition, nor do they fear consequences. In a city where fortunes rise and fall like the tide, the Ten Hoves are determined to control the currents, no matter the cost.
Family De Witte
Cunning traders and quiet deals
Beaver Graft No.8 - Yellow
The De Witte family arrived in New Amsterdam seeking fortune through trade. Hailing from a wealthy merchant house in Amsterdam, Willem De Witte recognized the colony as a land of untapped opportunity, and acted swiftly.
With a sharp mind for commerce and a willingness to bend the rules, the family quickly established itself as a dominant force in the beaver fur trade. But success rarely comes without shadows. Whispers follow the De Wittes, tales of backroom deals, quiet bribes, and information traded as readily as coin.
While rivals cling to tradition or brute force, the De Wittes adapt. Always watching. Always calculating. Their enemies admire their cunning, and fear them for the same reason.
Each family brings its own strengths, ambitions,
and risks to the table. In New Amsterdam, legacy is not inherited, it is claimed.
Which family's name will history remember?