Different Europeans in the New World

[Col. Whipstick]

During the last few accidental history lessons I've given in this forum I thought it might be interesting to start a thread to discuss and highlight all the different European nations/empires involved in colonization of the New World, Africa and the Pacific realm.

Obviously what I always reffer to as the big 5 need no introduction - England (later Great Britain), France, Spain, Portugal and Holland. But what about the efforts of other colonial outfits and companies from other European states? Perhaps it would be nice to see a Russian outpost MOC set in Alaska that is fighting Spain for control of the Pacific Northwest. Maybe in the history of the legoverse Scotland's Darien colony in Panama succeeded and Great Britain never became because Scotland was wealthy enough not to have to entered into union with England? And what about the Danish colonies of Iceland and Greenland and to a lesser extent the relation to 'Vinland', the fabled Viking discovery of Canada.

So come on guys, let's hear about the colonies we never really look at or hear or think about... Perhaps some of those European Napoleanic torso designs could have a home in the colonies after all? So, if anyone has ideas for a New Stockholm or New Vienna, let's hear about it.

Here's a useful link on the subject... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_colo...of_the_Americas

[Wout]

When I heard on school about that New York was once of the Netherlands I also thought about What if...

But maybe than we had a war with the settlers instead of England.

I saw a year ago on television about a city (Holland) in Michigan and there was a Holland museum. American girls with dutch names were clothed in old dutch clothings and danced the "klompendans" (clogdance), although they thought they were doing it. After some seconds a clog was falling in the water behind them and the dance looked more like something ritmic gymnastic. Although it was nice to see. A nice of a great-grandfather was moved somewhere before the secondworldwar to a place in the neighbourhood of that city.

[Col. Whipstick]

It's interesting you should make mention of New Amsterdam (New York). I've only just recently been discussing with another member in another thread how much of the early British Empire is territorially concessions from the Anglo-Dutch wars and in many respects one could say that it is based on the Dutch trade routes and outposts.

It seems the only real Dutch colony to survive in Dutch hands until inevitable independence was Dutch Guyana in South America and Batavia and other smaller territory in South East Asia which was still in Dutch hands until the invasions by Japan in the second world war. In North America and Africa the Dutch element has been largely blanketed. It's also interesting that Australia was named New Holland given that the famous Dutch explorer - Abel Tasman discovered and mapped much of Australasia and Tasmania is named after him. Despite these efforts however the Dutch failed to establish any settlements on the great Terra Australis.

[Mister Phes]

The Dutch seem quite useless at expanding their empire, don't they? X-D

[Col. Whipstick]

Well yeah X-D though I try not to say to say that too openly around the Dutch members. Of the big 5 they were the smallest, ultimately owing to the continual loss of what they had and little expansion.

[Mister Phes]

Why couldn't you say that openly around Dutch members? If history has taught us anything they're very unlikely to conquer you for revenge X-D

[Col. Whipstick]

Now you're just being mean! X-D

I still need to keep diplomatic relations strong incase we need allies against Bonaparte and looking at the size of his lego grand armee - we do!

[Mister Phes]

We need that Dutch sub-theme and fast!