Five Dutch Days Celebration

Five Dutch Days; Five Dutch Boroughs is a celebration of Dutch Arts and Culture, past and present. Five Dutch Days; Five Dutch Boroughs is a celebration of Dutch Arts and Culture, past and present. The annual city wide collaboration marks Dutch-American Heritage Day and the continuous influence of Dutch Arts and Culture in New York City.

Five Dutch Days in 2007 occurred on November 14-18, 2007. The events were kicked off at the Official Opening at St. Marks Church in the Bowery (Peter Stuyvesant's church) on Wednesday, November 14, where Minister of External Affairs Frans Timmermans from the Netherlands presented an inspirational speech regarding the history of the Dutch in New York City. Later that day, a walking tour of Dutch sites in lower Manhattan was hosted by Rick Landman, AICP that began at Bowling Green. That same evening, the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames hosted a Map Event at the New York Public Library where attendees could view original 17th century maps of their ancestor's lands.

The Holland Society of New York participated by hosting an informal Open House at their new office and library space at 20 W. 44th Street, Fifth Floor, New York, New York. The Open House gave interested persons the opportunity to tour the construction zone and see the installation of the beautiful library shelves for the 3,500 volume Holland Society of New York library. President John B. VanDerbeek IV and his wife, Diane greeted guests at the Open House.

Also in attendance was Holland Society of New York Trustee and volunteer architect for the new space Kenneth Hewes Barricklo. That evening the Holland Society of New York hosted their annual Medalist Banquet at the Union Club where Ted Turner was awarded the Achievement Medal for his considerable service to Society. Finally, on Friday, November 16, a group from the Holland Society of New York including President and Mrs. VanDerbeek and Bromme Cole attended the 26th Peter Stuyvesant Ball at the Grand Hyatt New York to raise funds for the Netherland America Foundation.

Events are being planned for 2008 at this time. For more information on Five Dutch Days visit: www.5dutchdaysnyc.org.