Pacific Southwest Branch

Contact:
Steve Snedeker
snedsned@roadrunner.com

Event Report:
Pilgrimage to the City of Our Forebears and a Study of New Netherland Culture
New York , September 8–14, 2009

A joint event was held by several branches of the Holland Society of New York and its membership committee along with the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Holland Dames and other volunteers. This magical week interlaced with other events organized by NY400 Holland on the Hudson, the South Seaport Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, the Metropolitan Museum, the New Netherland Museum (Half Moon), the Collegiate Church Corporation, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Saint Mark's Church on the Bowery, the Wyckoff House & Association, the Sons of the Revolution, Lincoln Cathedral, Fraunces Tavern Museum and others.

The centerpiece of this week was the study “Finding Your New Netherland Roots,” co-sponsored by the Holland Society of New York, the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, and the New York Public Library and held at the New York Public Library and the Holland Society of New York Library. The two-day event featured historians Janny Venema, Ph.D. and Firth Haring Fabend, Ph.D., and genealogists Harry Macy Jr., FASG and Christopher Brooks, who offered a series of lectures on New Netherland history and enhancing understanding of our ancestral record.

A special Dutch Culinary Heritage Dinner, held at the Algonquin Hotel, featured a slide show and talk by expert Ms. Peter G. Rose. The full day of engaging presentations added much to our understanding of Colonial Dutch life and Dutch food in art, we went away armed with new tools of understanding and resources for continuing our personal pursuit of historical knowledge.

The visit by the Crown Prince of Orange and Princess Maxima was a real treat, and the City turned out in huge New York fashion. Camelot sprang to mind as one caught sight of the Royal Family and heard them speak. To say the least, the Crown Prince is a ruggedly handsome young man, and the Princess is stunning with a radiant smile that makes strong men weak in the knees.

On Friday, September 11th, the Ministers, Elders and Deacons of the Collegiate Church Corporation joined with the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in a service of remembrance honoring victims of the 2001 attacks. At the West End Collegiate Church, the choir and organist were accompanied by the Royal Marine Corps Band of the Netherlands . HRH the Prince of Orange and HRH Princess Maxima of the Netherlands attended with invited guests the solemn and heartfelt occasion.

On Saturday, the Royal Family reviewed and then opened to the public a special exhibit at the South Street Seaport Museum . “ New Amsterdam : The Island at the Center of the World” presented by the National Archives of the Netherlands . Many historic items were featured, including the 1626 letter noting the purchase of Manhattan Island for 60 guilders' worth of goods ($24) and other letters, documents, and maps from the Colonial Dutch period. This museum also houses much of FDR's personal collection of model ships.

The exhibition was followed by a garden party with the Royals on Governor's Island . A little rain did not deter attendance and spirits ran high as the Steelband Korps Mariniers created wonderful music. Beautiful young women dressed in Volendam costumes, including Jenny Hendricks, daughter of Sir Andrew Hendricks, created one of many lovely photo opportunities. Colin Lazier had the opportunity to discuss with Princess Maxima the significance of the Beggars' Medal worn by Holland Society presidents. The entire day was simply exquisite.

On Sunday, Holland Society members and other friends gathered at the entrance to Battery Park to remember John B. VanDerbeek IV, the immediate past president of the Holland Society who passed away suddenly on the first of June this year. He had been at the forefront of the events of NY400, and it was sad to know he missed everything we were enjoying. Rev. Rett Zabriskie conducted the remembrance on a this beautiful afternoon while, just steps away, grand ships including the Half Moon sailed majestically on the Hudson during the last of the Harbor Days as the Statue of Liberty stood ever present in the distance.

On Monday, the Fraunces Tavern Museum held a black-tie cocktail party to introduce a special exhibit: one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta signed in 1215 by King John at Runnymede . It, along with other notable artifacts, seemed right at home in the house of the Sons of the Revolution. Being in this amazing building, in the rooms where the foundations of freedom were set in place for a great new nation, was both stirring and inspiring.

One could have chosen any single venue or event to occupy the week and still gone home satisfied. The limits of this article won't allow full descriptions of everything that happened during the week.

The City was filled with visitors from the Netherlands , and it was fun to wear a flag pin and orange ribbon that prompted many conversations about our proud Dutch heritage in restaurants, hotels and around town.

There were plenty of other good times, including intimate meals with old and new friends, museum tours, bike tours, shopping tours, walking tours of lower Manhattan, Harbor Day sightseeing and tours of ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy and NATO, visiting the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, going to the theatre, enjoying the sounds at the Blue Note and Birdland night clubs, eating sandwiches at Katz's Delicatessen, and fun rides on the famous New York subway system. We just did not want it to end.

Only one question remains: How do we top this event next year?

Respectfully submitted,

Steve Snedeker