Samuel de Champlain explored the Saint Lawrence River and founded Quebec City as the first French colony in New America, hoping to find a Northwest Passage. Quebec became a major trading center for beaver fur. Henry Hudson sailed for the Dutch and established New Netherland along the North American coast, including the city of New Amsterdam, which was later captured by the English and renamed New York. The French and Dutch established colonies in North America in search of trading routes to Asia and resources like beaver fur.