New York/Amsterdam  - The history of the Big Apple began 400 years ago when the Dutch ship, the Halve Maen, commanded by Captain Henry Hudson arrived at what is now Manhattan.

The ship embarked on its journey in Amsterdam and both cities are celebrating the anniversary over the coming months with a series of parties, parades and concerts.

Amsterdam is hosting New York jazz nights while the Big Apple has invited some big names from The Netherlands such as Dans Theater II and the country's symphony orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Events begin on April 6 - the 400th anniversary of the day the Maen, flying under the flag of the Royal Dutch East India Company, began its journey westwards with the Englishman Hudson on board.

It departed from the Dutch island of Texel with the aim of finding a new, sea passage to India.

The highlight of the festivities is a week-long open air harbour party in New York, September 8 to 13.

On September 11, 1609 Hudson began travelling up the mouth of the river that would one day bear his name.

During the journey, he discovered an island known by the local Delaware Indians as "Mannahata".

Beginning in 1624, Manhattan and the surrounding area were colonised by Dutch people.

Under the Dutch mandate, the German businessman Peter Minuit purchased the island from the Indians for just 60 Guilders ( 34 dollars).

Forty years later, the colony of Niew Nederland fell to the British together with its capital, Nieuw Amsterdam, which would later be renamed New York.

The symbolic starting point for festivities was a meeting between mayors Michael Bloomberg and Job Cohen in New York which was also broadcast to Amsterdam by satellite.

As an example of their mutual bond, Amsterdam has presented New York with a permanent pavilion in Battery Park designed by the Dutch architect Ben van Berkel.

Both cities are hoping the anniversary will attract tourists. Visitors to New York can follow the Dutch trail by visiting Brooklyn, formerly known as Breukelen, Harlem which was named after the Dutch town and Breede Weg which is now called Broadway.

Among the highlights of a visit to The Netherlands is the 60th anniversary of the Kuekenhof gardens in Lisse which has decorated it flowerbeds to mark the occasion.

The Netherlands's Queen Beatrix will open the gardens to the public on March 18. (dpa)