Dutch Canadians
Encyclopedia
According to the Canada 2006 Census
, there are 1,035,965 Canadians of Dutch descent, including those of full or partial ancestry.
among the United Empire Loyalists
. The largest wave was in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century when large numbers of Dutch helped settle the Canadian west. During this period significant numbers also settled in major cities like Toronto
. While interrupted by the First World War this migration returned in the 1920s, but again halted during the Great Depression
and Second World War. After world war II a large number of Dutch immigrants moved to Canada, including a number of war brides of the Canadian soldiers who liberated the Netherlands. During the war Canada had sheltered Crown Princess Juliana
and her family. The annual Canadian Tulip Festival held in May commemorates her with a generous amount of the Tulips coming from The Netherlands. Due to these close links Canada became a popular destination for Dutch immigrants. The Canadian government encouraged this, recruiting skilled workers. This post-war wave went mainly to urban centres such as Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver. With the economic recovery of the Netherlands in the post-war years immigration to Canada greatly slowed.
While one of the largest minority groups in Canada, Dutch Canadians have tended to rapidly assimilate and there are relatively few Dutch Canadian organizations and media. One important institution is the Christian Reformed Church in North America
, with most congregations found throughout Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. The Institute for Christian Studies
in Toronto, The King's University College
in Edmonton, and Redeemer University College
in Ancaster, Ontario are associated with this Dutch Reformed/Calvinist denomination. Christian Schools International
, the Christian Labour Association of Canada
, and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario are organizations with strong Dutch-Canadian roots.
Dutch Canadians, because of their shared cultural and religious heritage, tend to form tight knit communities. This has led to an in-joke known as Dutch Bingo http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=74555, where it is said that a Dutch Canadian is able to figure out his/her connection to another Dutch Canadian by asking questions about the other's last name, town of birth, church and the college they attended.
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, there are 1,035,965 Canadians of Dutch descent, including those of full or partial ancestry.
History
The first Dutch people to come to Canada were Dutch-AmericansDutch-Americans
A Dutch American is an American of Dutch descent.Following the exploration of the American East Coast by Henry Hudson on behalf of the Dutch East India Company in 1609, Dutch settlement in the Americas started in 1613...
among the United Empire Loyalists
United Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
. The largest wave was in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century when large numbers of Dutch helped settle the Canadian west. During this period significant numbers also settled in major cities like Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. While interrupted by the First World War this migration returned in the 1920s, but again halted during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and Second World War. After world war II a large number of Dutch immigrants moved to Canada, including a number of war brides of the Canadian soldiers who liberated the Netherlands. During the war Canada had sheltered Crown Princess Juliana
Juliana of the Netherlands
Juliana was the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands between 1948 and 1980. She was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry...
and her family. The annual Canadian Tulip Festival held in May commemorates her with a generous amount of the Tulips coming from The Netherlands. Due to these close links Canada became a popular destination for Dutch immigrants. The Canadian government encouraged this, recruiting skilled workers. This post-war wave went mainly to urban centres such as Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver. With the economic recovery of the Netherlands in the post-war years immigration to Canada greatly slowed.
While one of the largest minority groups in Canada, Dutch Canadians have tended to rapidly assimilate and there are relatively few Dutch Canadian organizations and media. One important institution is the Christian Reformed Church in North America
Christian Reformed Church in North America
The Christian Reformed Church in North America is a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. Having roots in the Dutch Reformed churches of the Netherlands, the Christian Reformed Church was founded by Gijsbert Haan and Dutch immigrants who left the Reformed Church in...
, with most congregations found throughout Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. The Institute for Christian Studies
Institute for Christian Studies
The Institute for Christian Studies Toronto, Ontario is one of several unrelated institutions bearing that name.ICS Toronto is an independent graduate school of inter-disciplinary philosophy. At ICS, Junior Members and Senior members take part in shared learning through participatory seminars,...
in Toronto, The King's University College
King's University College (Edmonton)
The King's University College is a private liberal arts college, located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The University was founded by members of the Christian Reformed Church who saw a need for a regional, trans-denominational, Christian college in Western Canada...
in Edmonton, and Redeemer University College
Redeemer University College
Redeemer University College is an undergraduate Christian Liberal Arts and Science University located in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1982, Redeemer stands in the Reformed Tradition and offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, and Bachelor of Science degrees.-History:The college...
in Ancaster, Ontario are associated with this Dutch Reformed/Calvinist denomination. Christian Schools International
Christian Schools International
Christian Schools International was established in 1920 and supports Christian school teachers who want Bible-based textbooks for their classrooms, principals and school administrators investigating employee benefit plans, Christian school board members seeking information about governance, and...
, the Christian Labour Association of Canada
Christian Labour Association of Canada
The Christian Labour Association of Canada is a labour union which represents workers in the construction, health care and food industries. The association was established in 1952 to represent workers on the basis of "Christian social principles"...
, and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario are organizations with strong Dutch-Canadian roots.
Dutch Canadians, because of their shared cultural and religious heritage, tend to form tight knit communities. This has led to an in-joke known as Dutch Bingo http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=74555, where it is said that a Dutch Canadian is able to figure out his/her connection to another Dutch Canadian by asking questions about the other's last name, town of birth, church and the college they attended.
Academia
- Parzival CopesParzival CopesParzival Copes, is a Canadian economist with a particular interest in regional science and specialization in fisheries economics and management....
(1924 - ) economist with a particular interest in regional science and specialization in fisheries economics and management - Sidney van den BerghSidney van den BerghSidney Van den Bergh, OC, FRS is a retired Canadian astronomer.Born in the Netherlands, son of businessman and politician Sidney James van den Bergh and grandson of Unilever co-founder Samuel van den Bergh, he showed an interest in science from an early age, learning to read with books on astronomy...
(1929 - ) astronomer - Mark Brodwin (1974 - ) astrophysicist
Arts and Entertainment
- Pamela AndersonPamela AndersonPamela Denise Anderson is a Canadian-American actress, model, producer, author, activist, and former showgirl, known for her roles on the television series Home Improvement, Baywatch, and V.I.P. She was chosen as a Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in February 1990...
(1967 - ) actress (Dutch maternal side and Finnish on paternal side) - Neve CampbellNeve CampbellNeve Adrianne Campbell is a Canadian actress. After beginning her career on stage, and on numerous commercials, she starred on the Canadian television series Catwalk. She then rose to international fame on the Golden Globe-winning 1990s television series Party of Five, playing the role of teenager...
(1973 - ) actress. - David CronenbergDavid CronenbergDavid Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people's fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the...
(1943 - ) film director - Sarah de LeeuwSarah de LeeuwSarah de Leeuw is a Canadian writer who wrote Unmarked: Landscapes Along Highway 16.A native of British Columbia, she grew up in Duncan, Queen Charlotte Islands and Terrace. She has worked as a tug boat driver, logging camp cook and journalist...
(1973 - ) writer. (Dutch descent) - Kristen HagerKristen HagerKristen Hager is a Canadian film and television actress.-Biography:Hager was born in Red Lake, Ontario, and made her first television appearance in the mini-series Beach Girls in 2005. A year later, she appeared in the TV series Runaway, which starred Donnie Wahlberg and child actress Niamh Wilson...
(1984 - ) actress. (Dutch descent) - Aart KeminkAart KeminkAart Kemink was a Dutch-Canadian painter, born May 30, 1914 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands....
(1914 - 2006) painter. - Kristin KreukKristin KreukKristin Laura Kreuk is a Canadian actress and producer, known for her portrayal of Lana Lang in the American television series Smallville. She was also a regular cast member on the Canadian teen drama Edgemont, and has starred in movies such as Eurotrip and Street Fighter: The Legend of...
(1982 - ) actress. - Cornelius KrieghoffCornelius KrieghoffCornelius David Krieghoff is probably the most popular Canadian painter of the 19th century. Krieghoff is most famous for his paintings of Canadian landscapes and Canadian life outdoors, which were sought-after in his own time as they are today. He is particularly famous for his winter scenes,...
(1815 - 1872) painter.) - Robert Naylor (actor) (1996 - ) actor (Dutch descent, maternal. Great-grandson of Hendrik Ellard Dykhuis, nee Dijkhuis. Mark Brodiwn, astrophysicist, and Karl DykhuisKarl DykhuisKarl Dykhuis is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens....
, retired NHLer are grandsons of Hendrik Ellard Dykhuis, nee Dijkhuis. Mark Brodwin and Karl Dykhuis are distantly related to Hendrik Brugt Gerhard Casimir FRS[1] (July 15, 1909 in The Hague, Netherlands – May 4, 2000 in Heeze) was a Dutch physicist best known for his research on the two-fluid model of superconductors (together with C. J. Gorter[2]) in 1934 and the Casimir effect (together with D. Polder) in 1948.) - Patricia RozemaPatricia RozemaPatricia Rozema is a Canadian film director and screenwriter.-Life and career:Rozema was born in Kingston, Ontario and raised in Sarnia, Ontario. Her parents, Jacoba Berandina and Jan Rozema, were Dutch Calvinists. Television was severely restricted and she didn’t go to a movie theatre until she...
(1958 - ) writer, director - Sonja SmitsSonja SmitsSonja Smits is a television actress who has played roles in many television series, including Falcon Crest, Airwolf, Odyssey 5, The Outer Limits, Street Legal, Traders and The Eleventh Hour.She also played Bianca O'Blivion in the David Cronenberg horror movie, Videodrome.Sonja went to Bell High...
(1958 - ) actress. (Dutch descent ) - Cobie SmuldersCobie SmuldersJacoba Francisca Maria "Cobie" Smulders is a Canadian actress and former model, known for her role as Robin Scherbatsky on the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother.-Early life:...
(1982 - ) actress. - Dorothy StrattenDorothy StrattenDorothy Stratten was a Canadian model and actress. Stratten was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for August 1979, Playmate of the Year in 1980 and was the second Playmate born in the 1960s. Stratten appeared in three comedy films and at least two episodes of shows broadcast on US network...
(1960-1980) model. - Johnny TerrisJohnny TerrisBorn in Toronto and raised in Pictou County Nova Scotia, Dutch-Canadian Johnny Terris is an actor, filmmaker, writer, producer, dancer, model, artist, photographer and visual video editor...
- filmmaker. - Aritha Van HerkAritha Van HerkAritha van Herk is a Canadian writer, critic, editor, and university professor.She was born in Wetaskiwin, Alberta . Her parents and elder siblings immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands before she was born. She grew up in a bilingual home, speaking English and Dutch. In 1974, she married...
(1954 - ) writer.
Politics and Civil Service
- Roméo DallaireRoméo DallaireLieutenant-General Roméo Antonius Dallaire, is a Canadian senator, humanitarian, author and retired general...
(1946 - ), senator, humanitarian, author and general - Simon De JongSimon De JongSimon Leendert De Jong was a Canadian parliamentarian. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1979 federal election as an New Democratic Party Member of Parliament from Saskatchewan...
(1942 - ) former parliamentarian - Rick DykstraRick DykstraRichard "Rick" Dykstra is a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 2006 federal election, for the Ontario riding of St. Catharines. Dykstra is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada...
(1966 - ) Conservative MP St. Catharines - John GerretsenJohn GerretsenJohn Philip Gerretsen is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and a Minister in the Cabinet of Premier Dalton McGuinty.-Early life:...
(1942 - ) politician - Samuel HollandSamuel HollandSamuel Johannes Holland was a Royal Engineer and first Surveyor General of British North America.-Life in the Netherlands:...
(1728 - 1801) Royal Engineer and first Surveyor General of British North America - John OostromJohn OostromJohn Martin Oostrom is a former business executive and Canadian parliamentarian. He was the first Dutch-born Canadian elected to the Canadian House of Commons-Life:...
(1930 - ) first Dutch born MP - Case OotesCase OotesCase Ootes is a former city councillor in Toronto, Canada, for Ward 29 Toronto—Danforth. He represented one of the two Toronto—Danforth wards...
- city councillor in Toronto. He served as deputy mayor under Mayor Mel LastmanMel LastmanMelvin Douglas "Mel" Lastman , nicknamed "Mayor Mel", is a former businessman and politician. He is the founder of the Bad Boy Furniture chain. He served as the mayor of the former city of North York, Ontario, Canada from 1972 until 1997. At the end of 1997, North York, along with five other...
and represents one of the two Toronto—Danforth wards. - Peter StofferPeter StofferPeter Arend Stoffer is a Canadian politician.Stoffer is currently a member of the New Democratic Party caucus in the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Sackville—Eastern Shore. He represented Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—Eastern Shore after the 2000 election, and after the...
(1956 - ) NDP MP Sackville-Eastern Shore - Bill Vander ZalmBill Vander ZalmWilhelmus Nicholaas Theodore Marie "Bill" Vander Zalm is a politician and entrepreneur in British Columbia, Canada. He was the 28th Premier of British Columbia from 1986 to 1991.-Early life:...
(1934 - ) politician and entrepreneur in British Columbia, Canada. He was the 28th Premier of British Columbia from 1986 to 1991 - Elizabeth WitmerElizabeth WitmerElizabeth Witmer is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1990, originally representing Waterloo North and later Kitchener—Waterloo for the Progressive Conservative Party.Witmer moved with her family to Ontario at a young age...
(1946 - ) Ontario cabinet minister - John van DongenJohn van DongenJohn van Dongen is a Member of the Legislative Assembly, representing the riding of Abbotsford South, in the province of British Columbia , Canada. Mr. van Dongen is one of the longest serving BC Liberal MLAs in the BC Legislature...
Abbotsford, British Columbia Liberal MLA, since 1995. - Mike de JongMike de JongMike de Jong, Q.C. is a politician from British Columbia, Canada.-Politics and career:He was appointed Minister of Health Mike de Jong on March 14, 2011. He has previously held the post of Attorney General and Government House Leader, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Minister of...
Abbotsford, British Columbia Liberal MLA, since 1994.
Sports
- Evert van Benthem (1958 - ), speed skater, won the ElfstedentochtElfstedentochtThe Elfstedentocht is the world's largest and longest speed skating competition and leisure skating tour, and is held irregularly in the province of Friesland, Netherlands.The tour, almost 200 km in length, is conducted on frozen canals, rivers and lakes between the eleven historic...
in 1985 and 1986 - Petra Burka (1946 - ) Olympic figure skater
- Karl DykhuisKarl DykhuisKarl Dykhuis is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens....
(1972- ) Ice hockey player; first cousin of Mark Brodwin (1974 - ) astrophysicist. - Adam van KoeverdenAdam van KoeverdenAdam Joseph van Koeverden is a Canadian sprint kayaker. He was born in Oakville, Ontario to a Dutch father and a Hungarian mother...
(1982 - ) Olympic gold medalist in K-1 500 m. His last name relates him to the Dutch city of CoevordenCoevordenCoevorden is a municipality and a city in the northeastern Netherlands. During the municipal reorganisation in the province in 1998, Coevorden merged with Dalen, Sleen, Oosterhesselen and Zweeloo.- Population centers :... - Trevor LindenTrevor LindenTrevor John Linden, C.M., O.B.C. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre and right wing with four different teams: the Vancouver Canucks , New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals...
(1970 - ) ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Vancouver Canucks - Dwight LodewegesDwight LodewegesDwight Lodeweges is Dutch football coach and former professional player now coaching for JEF United Ichihara Chiba in J. League Division 2.- Early life :...
(1957 - ) footballer and coach - Joe NieuwendykJoe NieuwendykJoseph Nieuwendyk is the general manager of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League and a retired Canadian ice hockey player...
(1966 - ) ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Florida Panthers - Beorn NijenhuisBeorn NijenhuisBeorn Enriqué Nijenhuis is a Dutch speed skater, who represented the Netherlands at the 2006 Winter Olympics....
(1984 - ) speed skater, who represents the Netherlands at the 2006 Winter Olympics - John van 't SchipJohn van 't SchipJohannes Nicolaas "John" van 't Schip is a former Dutch international footballer. He is the manager for the A-League team Melbourne Heart.- Early life :Born in Fort St...
(1963 - ) footballer - Eric StaalEric StaalEric Craig Staal is a Canadian ice hockey player and the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League...
(1984 - ) ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Carolina Hurricanes - Jordan StaalJordan StaalJordan Lee Staal is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
(1988 - ) ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins - Bruce Timmermans ( - 1999) activist cyclist and founder of Citizens for Safe Cycling Ottawa
- Kelly VanderBeekKelly VanderBeekKelly VanderBeek is a Canadian alpine skier originally from Kitchener, Ontario. She currently resides in Chilliwack, British Columbia with husband David Ford...
(1983 - ) Alpine Skier - Mike VanderjagtMike VanderjagtMichael John "Mike" Vanderjagt , is a professional American and Canadian football placekicker and punter who has played in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and National Football League...
(1970 - ) the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Played for the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys and is currently a Free Agent. - Greg de VriesGreg de VriesGreg de Vries is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played over 800 games with six teams in the National Hockey League...
(1973 - ) Ice hockey player - Steve YzermanSteve YzermanStephen Gregory "Steve" Yzerman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League...
(1965 - ) retired NHL player for the Detroit Red Wings
Web sites
- Canadian Encyclopedia - Dutch
- DCA: Dutch Canadian Association - Dutch Canadians
- CAANS: Canadian Association for the Advancement of Netherlandic Studies - Dutch Canadians
- Maandblad de Krant, Monthly Magazine for Canadians and Americans of Dutch Origin
- Historical articles about postwar Dutch immigration to Canada and the USA