New York... Belgian once?
New-York, its buildings, its shops, its taxis... what if this "American dream" had become possible thanks to a man from Tournai?
Well yes ! In 1626, Pierre Minuit, whose parents from Tournai fled the Spanish Netherlands at the time of religious persecution, landed on the island of Manhattan and bought the southern tip of the island from the Amerindians. This piece of land will become present-day Manhattan, one of the 5 boroughs of New York.
Today, it is still possible to go to Place Pierre Minuit not far from the Battery park. A stelle is visible, in tribute to this illustrious character, whose family roots are indeed from Tournai!
