Fort Orange (), founded in 1624 by the Dutch to replace the flood prone Fort Nassau on nearby Castle Island—was the first permanent Dutch settlement in New Netherland and was on the west-bank of the Hudson site of the present-day city of Albany, New York. It was a replacement for Fort Nassau, which had been built on nearby Castle Island in the Hudson River, and which served as a trading post until 1617 or 1618, when it was abandoned due to frequent flooding. Both forts were named in honor of the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau. Due to a dispute between the Director-General of New Netherland and the patroonship of Rensselaerswyck regarding jurisdiction over the fort and the surrounding community, the fort and community became an independent municipality, paving the way for the future city of A