What was patroonship?

a Dutch ship used for transporting beaver furs

a Dutch system of patronage that encouraged the arts

a Dutch system of granting tracts of land in New Netherland to encourage colonization

a Dutch style of hat trimmed with beaver fur from New Netherland

The correct answer is C. A Dutch system of granting tracts of land in New Netherland to encourage colonization

Explanation:

The term "patroonship" refers to a system developed during the 17th century in New Netherland, which was a Dutch colony located on the east of North America. In this system tracts of land were provided to people that were landholders from the Netherlands mainly to increase the territory this colony covered and in general, terms to foster colonization and guaranteed Netherland had access to the sources of the New World. Additionally, the role of the patroon evolved as each person that owned a tract of land also had political and civil privileges over others. Considering this, it can be concluded a patroonship was basically a Dutch system of granting tracts of land in New Netherland to encourage colonization.