Flushing was originally inhabited by the Matinecoc Indians prior to colonialization and English settlement. On October 10, 1645, Flushing was established by the Dutch on the eastern bank of Flushing Creek under charter of the Dutch West India Company and was part of the New Netherland colony. The settlement was named after the city of Vlissingen, in the southwestern Netherlands, the main port of the company. However, by 1657, the residents called the place "Vlissing." Eventually, "Flushing", the British name for Vlissingen, was used. The original name is supposedly derived from the Dutch word "fles" which means "bottle." Today, Flushing has cemented its status as an international melting pot, predominantly attracting immigrants from Asia, particularly from throughout the various provinces of China, but including newcomers from all over the world. However, Flushing continues to expand southeastward along Kissena Boulevard and northward beyond Northern Boulevard. Flushing houses over 30,000 individuals born in China alone, the largest group by this metric outside Asia and one of the largest and fastest-growing neighborhood in the world.