Hendrick Christiaensen was a Dutch explorer who was involved in the earlier exploration of what became present day New York City.

In 1611, Christiaensen paid two visits to Manhattan

Manhattan

Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...

, including one with fellow explorer Adriaen Block

Adriaen Block

Adriaen Block was a Dutch private trader and navigator who is best known for exploring the coastal and river valley areas between present-day New Jersey and Massachusetts during four voyages from 1611 to 1614, following the 1609 expedition by Henry Hudson...

. Upon his return to the Netherlands following the second of his trips, he brought back with him two young Indians, who were the sons of a local sachem. The Dutch were fascinated with the boys, and they eventually earned the names Orson and Valentine.

By 1613, Christiaensen was captain of the vessel Fortuyn. He again returned to Manhattan, and with Adrien Block, he created the first map of the region that showed Manhattan and Long Island

Long Island

Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...

 as separate geographical entities.

In 1616, Hendrick Christiaensen was murdered by his adoptive son Orson near present-day Albany, New York

Albany, New York

Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...

.