#9: New Amsterdam → New York (United States)
The story of New York begins with a trade deal. In 1664, the British seized the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam and renamed it after the Duke of York. What followed was an explosion of culture and commerce that would define America’s identity. However, if you walk through Lower Manhattan, street names like “Broad” and “Wall” still echo the old Dutch grid.
The city didn’t just change flags and language; it became something larger.