Dutch North America

Dutch West and East Indian Companies always had trouble to attract quality immigrants. In part, this was the fault of the companies themselves, since, compared to the British at least, they were overly strict with the colonists. In part, this was the result of greater religious freedom in the Dutch Republic. While England forced out a lot of middle class dissenters into the colonies, Dutch colonies attracted mostly temporary migrants. Without immigrants, the Dutch failed to acquire a firm footing in their colonies and, once their fleet became inferior to the British, their colonies could be conquered at almost any time.

That said, it is still conceivable that the Dutch could retain New Amsterdam for a least a century more, like they retained some of their other colonies (e.g., Ceylon or South Africa). Even though it was lost in 1667, it might still be regained after the peace settlement, rather than exchanged for Surinam. While this scenario would still not lead to the Dutch North America, it might delay or even prevent the formation of the United States.
 
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