Jacob Jacobsz Steendam, by J.M. Quinckhard, 18th century. Colonist, merchant and man of letters, Jacob Steendam (1615-1673) lived in New Amsterdam, a Dutch settlement later captured and renamed New York by the English. He imported slaves to New Netherland from West Africa. Steendam is better known for his poetry. It was in New Netherland that he wrote his Prickelvaersen encouraging the foundation of a colony on the Delaware river.