New Amsterdam

New Amsterdam, town, northeastern Guyana. It lies along the Berbice River near the point at which the latter empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Built in 1740 by the Dutch and first named Fort Sint Andries, it was made seat of the Dutch colonial government in 1790; in 1803 it was taken over by the British. Although a picturesque Dutch air still is found in the town, it has an Anglican cathedral. New Amsterdam is the commercial and manufacturing centre for the agricultural and pastoral coastal lowlands, where sugarcane, rice, and cattle are raised. The town can be reached by road from Georgetown, the national capital, and via a ferry across the Berbice River to Rosignol. Pop. (2002) 15,997.