TyreMon TyreMon 21-12-2016 History contestada One reason that the colony of New Netherland grew slowly was that.... 1 American Indians in the area were not interested in trade with colonists. 2 colonists were more interested in the fur trade than in permanent settlement. 3 the colony was not situated near any viable rivers or harbors. 4 the Dutch East India Company had used up all the farmable land in the colony.