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Ancestral home
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?

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Henk, we have not traveled to Holland yet but we plan to in the future. My significant other's grand-uncle was Georg Hendrik Breitner and we want see his paintings and photographs at the Rijksmuseum. We want to stay at the Breitner Hotel in Rotterdam, which is where Pieter's family lived. We hope they will be relatives and we will make the family connection.

What is the best time of the year to travel to Holland?
If you want to see the tulips, come in late April (but avoid the Easter weekend). Otherwise spring or summer would be a good time (April/May-September).

The Rijksmuseum is currently closed for renovation and will reopen in 2012 or 2013 (one wing of the museum will remain open during the renovation to show the highlights of their collection). So check before you fly here if you can see any Breitners! And book your tickets online to avoid the long queue at the entrance.

The Amsterdam city archive also has Breitner photos.

Paula Hinkel said:
Henk, we have not traveled to Holland yet but we plan to in the future. My significant other's grand-uncle was Georg Hendrik Breitner and we want see his paintings and photographs at the Rijksmuseum. We want to stay at the Breitner Hotel in Rotterdam, which is where Pieter's family lived. We hope they will be relatives and we will make the family connection.

What is the best time of the year to travel to Holland?

Henk, I have been to Amsterdam and I loved what I saw of the city! The day I arrived it was pouring rain but I was struck by how many bicycles there were - few cars, many bikes. Mind you this was in 1977 so I am sure things may be quite different now!

I enjoyed seeing the canals, the high narrow houses - all very different from where I live. Sadly I did not know I had any Dutch ancestry at that time so did not realize the many of my Dutch ancestors had walked the same streets I walked!



I was only there a few days but visited the Anne Frank home, then took a tour to a village (whose name I have long forgotten) where cheese was made. I noticed the beautiful white lace curtains in almost all the homes. But what I really loved was the wonderful breakfasts! And the enormous sandwhiches on fresh bread that we were given to take with us on the train to Italy. Wonderful!
Well, there are certainly more cars now, and probably more bicycles too than in 1977.

Do you know which streets in Amsterdam your ancestors must have walked?
Henk

One of my Dutch ancestors, Gissel or Geesie Barentsdr.was living on the Schaepensteegje or Sheep Alley in Amsterdam at the time of her daughter's (my next direct ancestor) marriage in 1632
There is still a Schapensteeg in downtown Amsterdam. I don't know if it's the same street, though.
I was in Amsterdam in 1972 and loved the city and canals and the bicycles. This was long before I became interested in genealogy, unfortunately. I felt very at home since the Dutch faces looked just like my relatives and neighbors in Grand Rapids, Michigan (with its huge Dutch population.) I also enjoyed visiting the Rijksmuseum. As a traveling student, I didn't really get to the countryside. I would like to go back again and see where great great grandparents came from.
Where did they come from, Barbara? Are you planning to visit again?
Hi Henk,

The Benjaminse family came from Goes and the VandenBosch family from Langezwaag, Friesland. The Tamme VandenBosch family left Witten in Drenthe in 1848, took the ship Scandia to New York, and became pioneers in Zeeland, Michigan. The Benjaminse family came over on the ship Oneida in 1847 and lived near the VandenBosch family. I guess that's how my gg grandparents met! I am also researching the last names: Janssen/Jansen , Slot, and Visser.
Twice. Once many years ago with my (now ex-)husband before I knew much about my ancestors. Once with my daughter 2 years ago. We went ot many of the ancestral towns, although we are not sure of houses (is the numbering the same now as it was in the 1840s??). Have a pretty good idea where the farm of one family was from a distant cousin's research in land records. Mostly, just were thrilled to see the places they saw, Most are still small towns. Also did some purely tourist things - Keukenhof, Alkmaar cheese market, Amsterdam and Haarlem. Looking forward to going back, hopefully for a research trip next time.
No, the numbering is usually not the same. Nowadays the numbering is per street, in the 1840s per village (or town section, for larger towns). And unfortunately in many places very few houses from the 1840s survive.

Many local and regional archives have some information about the change in house numbers, so ask for it next time on your research trip.

Where did your ancestors live, Jane? Did you take photos?
I have ancestors from Zeeland (mostly Schouwen-Duiveland), Zuid Holland (Hoeksche Waard), Gelderland (Achterhoek and Veluwe), Overijssel, and Friesland. All from small towns and villages. Earliest 1852, most recent 1910 to US. LOTS of pictures. Between us, I think my daughter and I had about 20 rolls. Have a lot on Picasa, will sort some and put in a link.

A few places had dates on the houses, from about the time we left. But will have to find out if "Huisnummer 42" in a BS from then is the same place today. Next trip, maybe. At least we saw the villages and surrounding countryside (since many were farmers and farm laborers).

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