The Hudson river in New York is named for Henry Hudson the man who discovered it. Not only did he discover the river he is responsible for creating the transportation system for the city, forever making history. Many things have changed since that time, but one thing remains the same and it is the relationship between Netherlands and the United States. The Quadricentennial celebration this year is in honor of both the landing of Henry Hudson 400 years ago in North American and the relation between the two countries, between the city of New York, once called New Amsterdam, and the city of Amsterdam. Throughout all of 2009, the two will exchange gifts, things such as artwork and tulips, festivals and conservation ideas, the main gift to the city of Manhattan being a pavilion. This will be designed by the architect Ben van Berkel of Amsterdam. This will be constructed on the site of Nieuw Amsterdam Plein, just aside Battery Park in Manhattan. It is meant to commemorate and honor the shared history of the cities in the past, and what promises to be a lasting relationship into the future.

The two cities are even exchange programs for job swaps, bringing Americans to Holland and vice-versa. The two governments will conduct seminars and conventions, bringing people together to discuss such topics as water management and health care. “Starry Night’ the Van Gogh painting permanently housed at the Metropolitan Museum in New York will be transported back to the Netherlands for the fist time, and will become the focus at the Van Gogh Museum in downtown Amsterdam. Many celebrations and parties will be held in the streets as well as in Amsterdam’s five star hotels, in honor of the painting and of the artist. And just last week, the Keukenhof Spring Garden opened. And as tribute, over 50,000 flower bulbs were planted in order to create the Statue of Liberty in a mosaic in the center of the park. And in New York, famous designers from Amsterdam have designed a path in the New York Botanical Garden, with the seasons in mind. The shapes and the colors of the park will change throughout the year as various flowers come into bloom. These celebrations of shared values and friendship with continue all year long.

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2. A Streak of Good Luck in New York City
3. Artistic Beauty of Birmingham
4. National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne
5. The Nine Day Festival of Zaragoza, Spain