Bouwerie

Bouwerie refers to an old Dutch word meaning "farm" or "plantation." In American history, particularly in the context of New York City, it specifically refers to the estate of Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch Director-General of New Netherland. His "bouwerie" was a large farm located north of New Amsterdam (present-day Lower Manhattan).

Over time, the term "Bowery" (a modified and anglicized version of "Bouwerie") came to denote the road leading to Stuyvesant's farm, which eventually became a major thoroughfare and the namesake of the Bowery neighborhood in Manhattan. The Bowery evolved from a rural agricultural area to a commercial street and then to a district known for its theaters, flophouses, and gritty character. While the neighborhood's character has changed significantly over the decades, the name "Bowery" serves as a reminder of its Dutch colonial origins and its transformation from a farm into a prominent part of New York City.