The Genealogy & Family History Social Network

Have you been in Holland?

Have you ever been to Holland? If so, did you find any traces of your ancestors? An ancestral home maybe, or the church they attended? Maybe you can show us a photo?

My photo is from my great-grandparents (and later my grandparents) home. I took it in 2006. The ivy from my grandparents' time was gone, but otherwise not much changed, at least not on the outside.

If you did not look for ancestors when you were in Holland, then what did you do? Visit tulips and windmills, or the Dutch masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum?

0 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sandy Kemp on July 27, 2009 at 2:37pm

I have been to Holland, but at that time wasn't interested in genealogy. We went to the Rijksmuseum, and out into the countryside. We did a lot of walking around Amsterdam, just soaking it all in. We saw the Ann Frank house, which was a unique experience. It feels like a church in there. Holland is a beautiful country. I'd love to go again now that I'm able to appreciate it so much more!

Permalink Reply by Earl Reemt Duthler on August 14, 2009 at 9:27am

LOL, not only have been there, I've lived in the Netherlands the past 20 years, emigrating from Grand Rapids, Michigan. My grandfather emigrated as WW1 broke out, with most of his family; he was 18 then. I emigrated back in 1989. For me, the Netherlands sat pretty tightly in the genes yet, and felt at home from day one, with the exception of the language.

I've traced my paternal to the early/mid 1700s and maternal side to 1660. Have been to 'where it all began' in Holland for the paternal side; plan to do that with the maternal side soon. Photo below is from my great grandparents and many of their kids by their grocery store in Enschede ca. 1895. This was the bunch that emigrated, except the two older boys.

Would like to trace back further, for I suspect my paternal side came with the Huguenots, as my maternal side almost certainly did. Both were hervoormd/gereformeerd, and not a little.

Permalink Reply by Ursula Ann Martin on August 17, 2009 at 3:43pm

Hi Henk,

I don't have any Dutch ancestors but lived in Holland for 16 years. Came back to England 4 years ago with my children (both born in Holland) after the break-up of my marriage.

I do miss Holland but it's great to be back in England! Kids have had the best of both worlds :-)

One thing that is a REAL coincidence: My father was one of the liberators (British Royal Welch Fusiliers) in 's-Hertogenbosch and my daughter was born there! I didn't even know that my father was one of the liberators there until she was born and he told me! Talk about what goes around comes around!

Ursula

Permalink Reply by Cecilia Eppink on September 10, 2010 at 12:23pm

I have been to the Netherlands back in 1976, but only for two days. This was before i was seriously interested in Genealogy and way before I started my Family Tree.

I do have a photo of my Great Great Grandfather's birthplace. Christopher Nyland's father was the sexton at the cemetery in Eibergen, Gelderlands. The house was on cemetery property so he actually was born in a cemetery.

I have attached a photo of his birthplace obtained from family.

Attachments:

christopher_nyland_birthplace_eibergen.jpg, 48 KB

Permalink Reply by Henk van Kampen on October 3, 2010 at 9:57pm

Well, I can give you some tips. Let me know if you have any questions.
* While you are in Amsterdam, go and see Rembrandt's masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum. Book in advance (can be done online) to prevent spending hours waiting in line at the ticket booths.
* There is a list of eight must-sees on my website. All can be done on day-trips from Amsterdam.
* If you want to do some archive research, read Visit a Dutch archive.
* Find out which graves to visit in Friesland at Graftombe and Online Begraafplaatsen (Online Cemeteries).

Permalink Reply by Christine Kay Olsen-Needham on September 11, 2010 at 1:58pm

I won a trip to Amsterdam in 2000, and did visit Rijksmuseum (and got to see "The Nightwatch") also many other museums. I have been to Amsterdam many times, since I lived in Norway, and flying KLM, Amsterdam is always the layover. I enjoy the flowers very much, too! I wish I would have been into genealogy when I was there all the time, but I was in my early 20's. I will have to find some photos and figure out how to post them! (They are from early 1990's and 2000)

Permalink Reply by Caren on November 14, 2010 at 2:22pm

I grew up in Germany and visited the Netherlands several times. Unfortunatly at that time I had no clue I had Dutch roots. Perhaps if I went back someday I'd love to visit Haarlem where many of my Dutch ancestors were from.

Have you been in Holland?

Replies to This Discussion

Members