History of the Dutch and Swedish in New Jersey By Van Jones Aug 23, 1609 Henry Hudson traveled the Newark Bay Jan 1, 1638 Sweden builds a fort in New Jersey Oct 9, 1641 Varkens Kill is Founded Swedish Town May 1, 1643 Swedish establish a fort in New Jersey Oct 9, 1649 Nya Stockholm and Sveaborg is founded Swedish Town Jan 1, 1655 Dutch takes over the Swedish Fort Oct 9, 1660 Dutch establish the first town in New Jersey In Bergen County Sep 8, 1664 The British takes over New Jersey from the Dutch