The Fonda Blog

Provincie Fryslân is inviting Americans with Frisian roots for a Festival and Friesland Day in New York

Thursday, 18 june 2009

Friesland (one of the northern provinces of the Netherlands) is inviting Frisian emigrants, descendants of immigrants and other Americans with Frisian roots for the Special Friesland Day on September 12th at the New isLand Festival in New York. By logging on to www.fryslan.nl/madeinfriesland interested parties can visit the festival at a discount.

This year the Netherlands are commemorating and celebrating 400 years of friendship ties with America. The province of Fryslân (Friesland) will also participate in the festivities in New York in September. The highlight is the Friesland Day on September 12th at the New isLand Festival on Governors Island off the coast of Manhattan. Frisian emigrants, descendants of immigrants and other Americans with Frisian roots will have the opportunity to visit the festival on September 12th, or any other day. For a pass giving access to the festival site, they do not pay USD 35, but only USD 25.

NYC Governors Island

Friesland Day: September 12th
The Frisian Oerol organization, together with several other organizations, is organizing the New isLand Festival on Governors Island. From September 10th to 20th 2009 the theme on the island will be the best the Dutch (and Frisian) theater and festival circuit has to offer. A number of Frisian artists will be performing. On September 12th Friesland Day will take place. This is a special day for everyone who feels connected with Friesland. During the day a book will be presented on 400 years of Frisian – American relationships. Also Frisian artists will be performing, such as the composer Sytze Pruiksma, fado singer Nynke Laverman and the striking poet Tsjêbbe Hettinga.

Frisian contingent gets sending off to festival in NYC Sept 10-20

Signing up through the website
Interested parties can sign up through the dedicated website www.fryslan.nl/madeinfriesland. Submissions will be treated in order of entry. A limited number of discount vouchers is available. The discount card voucher can be exchanged for a discount on the pass on the day of choice.

Background information
In 2009 it has been 400 years since Captain Henry Hudson with his Dutch East India Company ship the ‘Halve Maen’ visited what is now known as New York. This led to the founding of the colony of New Netherland and the city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan a few years later. These historical facts are cause for various governments and organizations to give a new impulse to the relationship between the Netherlands and the United States. Given the particular historical relationship of Friesland with America, the province will join in the commemoration of 400 years of friendship with America. In February 1782 the Frisian States were the first in the Republic of the United Netherlands to recognize the independence of the United States of America. In 2009 it has also been exactly a century ago that a bronze plaque, the Memorial of Gratitude to the Frisian States was offered by America.

With the slogan ‘Made in Friesland’ the province, together with Frisian companies and institutions, will be presenting the qualities of Friesland. The aim is to strengthen existing relationships and explore new ones. From September 1st to 20th various activities will be organized in New York, such as a presentation on water technology at the H209 Water Forum, the opening of the Fryslân House for entrepreneurs and Friesland Day during the New isLand Festival on Governors Island.

For more information on the New isLand Festival, visit www.newislandfestival.com.

written by admin \\ tags: History, Holland, Notables, Settlers