Family History
Links
Frisian/Netherlands map
Brimanger Route to USA
Hitzum, view from the air.
Albert Dijkstra and Froukje Hager-Dijkstra family.
Friesland doesn't mean cold land; rather it means free people. Throughout Europe turmoil always existed because of religion and the Netherlands was no different. The Eastern most part of Friesland (now part of Germany) was conquered by a rich landowner by destroying the sluices in the river Eems, which caused a flood, and drowned 34 villages and created Dollart Bay, thus separating Eastern Friesland from present-day Friesland. In 1814 Friesland became a province of the Netherlands when it became a Monarchy. Many Frieslanders also settled areas of England, France, and in parts of New York and New Jersey. See Ade's homepage for more information on Frisian history.
Throughout this time the people who settled Holland had one major problem; the sea. The land was low and flat and water logged. The first farmers made their own wooden shoes, which were nothing more than a pair of wooden boards with a little belt around it. In the Middle Ages, painting of the shoes began. From the 18th century on the wooden shoe had an enormous increase in production due to the introduction of machines and they became an important trade. Between WWI and WWII the production decreased by half and in 1976 only 500 companies were left, 150 of those automated. They now produce 3 million pairs of wooden shoes a year. Many Dutch still wear their wooden shoes for gardening and the shoes can be seen neatly placed by the back door.
Albert and Froukje, summer 1924 on their wedding day.
Above Photo
From left to right
Sally, Rinze or Tamme?, Julie, Peggy, Klaas, Elizabeth
Frisian people have a character all their own and are known for their artwork, independence, faithfulness but also on the negative side, tend to get depressed; perhaps because of the long winters. They are not afraid of adventure and their seaman are renowned for plying the seas. Two of Albert's brothers came to America prior to WWII and made much money milking at dairies in Artesia, California. They became homesick and returned to Holland, Wilhem building his own dairy (pictured below).
Albert, heard their stories of America, and wanted to bring his family here. He loved to ride and loved to ice skate and one day fell upon the frozen canal and was run over by another skater, causing a nasty gash on his lip. This cut never healed and Froukje fretted, wanting him to go and see a doctor. He also smoked cigars and perhaps the combination of the two resulted in Melanoma. The younger children were sent to Froukje's parents' home to be cared for while she and Elizabeth cared for Albert until he died at a much too young age.
At school in Holland
counterclockwise Zwaantje (sally) , Gertje ( Julie), Tamme and Rinze
A few years later Froukje found herself facing WWII and the invasion of Holland by the Nazi's. (See link on WWII and its affects on the people and the terrible winter of l945). Upon receiving packages from Albert's cousin followed by an invite to move to America the family packed all of their belongings into a knapsack for each and a couple of suitcases.
Above Photo
Taken approx July 12, 1947
From left to right Froukje, Rinze, Julie, Grandma Geertje (Alberts mother), Sally, Klaas, Tamme Dijkstra (Albert's father), Peggy, Elizabeth and Tamme
Albert's brother, Age, acted as laison for the family, doing much of the needed paperwork. He also accompanied them on the train to the Brimanger. Age is an avid outdoorsman, still hunting Eel, in the canals by his home and still living across the field from where he lived when Froukje lived in Hitzum.
Tamme and Geertje Dykstra's home
where Age Dijkstra continues to live today.
Froukje's home today
Above Photo
from left to right top row, Elizabeth, Peggy, Julie, Klaas
Bottom row, Rinze, Sally, Tamme
Above Photo
from left to right Rinze, Klaas, Tamme, Peggy, Sally and Julie
Above Photo
Uncle Age in Hitzum getting ready to find his dinner.
Geertje I (deceased 4/9/32)