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New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen, Dutch Cabinet Minister Frans Timmermans and NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta have announced a year of events, exhibits, outdoor activities and performances to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Henry Hudson to New York City. The tourism campaign, known as NYC400 will run from September 8-13, 2009 with a Harbor Day celebration on September 13. Harbor Day activities will include free bike rental and ferry rides so visitors can explore the city’s waterfront districts.
The campaign also includes reaching out to suppliers to offer special packages. Continental Airlines will offer a special fare of $591 (€450), including taxes and surcharges, for return flights from Amsterdam to New York. The fare, which will be available and valid for travel from January 28 to February 28, 2009, is subject to availability and tax/surcharge and exchange-rate fluctuations.
The Netherlands government has also extended a gift to the city in the form of a 5,000-square-foot Plein & Pavilion, a tribute to 400 years of friendship, which will be erected at the Battery in late 2009.