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The name Brooklyn originates from Breukelen, 14 miles south of Amsterdam. Two early settlers, African-Dutch Jan Jansen van Salee and his wife Grietje Reiniers settled here amidst the Lenape in 1639 after being banned from New Amsterdam for public disturbance. The whole area of present day Brooklyn, including villages as New Amersfoort and New Utrecht was colonised by the Dutch, exploiting a large group of enslaved people from Afric