While the actual 46th Annual Dutch Days Festival had to be cancelled this year due to the pandemic, the Schmaling Library staff decided to put together a virtual Dutch Days. As the 2021 Dutch Days Festival was cancelled as well, we’re re-releasing our 2020 Virtual Dutch Days page for those of you who are missing the festivities! Below you’ll find links, activities, videos, photographs, and more related to Dutch Days and the Netherlands. It’s not fancy, but it does represent a lot of work and a lot of fun had by Fulton’s librarians and the volunteers who helped us out with all of this! We hope that the real Dutch Days will be back next year on May 6 and 7. The theme will be “The Liberation of the Netherlands.” Thank you to Dutch Days Committee Chair, Barb Mask, for giving us the go ahead to put this together for you! Enjoy!

Happy Dutch Days!

To kick off the first ever Virtual Dutch Days, here’s a video of some cute little Dutch children to greet you!

Local Dutch Days Attractions

De Immigrant Windmill and Windmill Cultural Center

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Visit de Immigrant authentic Dutch windmill through these photos and watch a video about de Immigrant Windmill and how it is used to help the Mississippi River Distilling Company in LeClaire, Iowa make their Windmill Rye Whiskey: https://www.cityoffulton.us/city/fulton-directory/attractions/de-immigrant-windmill.html

You can view more photos and videos from de Immigrant and the Windmill Cultural Center on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Windmill-Cultural-Center-de-Immigrant-Windmill-116642225034855/videos/?ref=page_internal

Want to learn more about the windmills of Holland? Here’s your page: https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/travel-inspiration/traditional/windmills.htm

Wierenga’s Heritage Canyon

Wierenga’s Heritage Canyon, a recreated 1800’s village located in an old limestone quarry, is a Fulton Treasure! The Canyon is usually open during Dutch Days with the Early American Crafters creating reenactments in the historical village. You can view photographs and videos taken in the Canyon on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WierengasHeritageCanyon/.

Dutch Dancing

The Dutch Days Festival always includes traditional Dutch Klompen Dancing on 4th Street on both Friday and Saturday of the festival. Below, you’ll find some Dutch Dancing videos shared with us by some wonderful volunteers!

You can view more Dutch Dancing videos and photos on the Dutch Dancing Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Dutchdancing/

Steve Klooster Memorial 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run

Saturday morning of Dutch Days usually kicks off with the Steve Klooster Memorial Kids Fun Run and the 5K Run/Walk through downtown Fulton, along the dike, and down 4th Street past Heritage Canyon. It was kind of hard to stage a virtual race, but here are some photos from the 2018 and 2019 Run/Walk and Fun Run! Thank you to Rebecca Huizenga, Mary Hartman, and Linda Jackson for sharing these photos!

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Dutch Days Virtual Antique Vehicle Show

The Antique Car Show has been a staple at Dutch Days for years. Here’s our virtual version. Thank you to everyone who sent in pictures of their antique vehicles.

Dutch Days Virtual Fashion Show

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We didn’t get any volunteers except the Hartman kids to participate in our Virtual Dutch Fashion Show, but you can view more examples of Dutch costumes here: https://www.tuliptime.com/dutch-heritage/dutch-dance/costumes.

Dutch Days Virtual Tractor Show

We were somewhat limited on our tractor show photos, but thank you to Linda Jackson, Rebecca Huizenga, and Sara Pessman for supplying us with these photos!

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Dutch Days Virtual Story Time

Watch the video of Miss Gwen reading Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming, a story about a little Dutch girl who receives some big surprises from her American pen pal following World War II. Below that, you’ll find a cheerful tulip coloring page you can print, as well!

Dutch Days Wooden Shoe Race

In years past, Dutch Days has featured a Wooden Shoe Race. It’s hard to run in klompen! Below is a photo of a past Wooden Shoe Race.

The Hartman kids decided to recreate a wooden shoe race all decked out in their Dutch costumes! Watch the videos below to see how they did (they ran on grass, which is much easier than slippery concrete, although you don’t get that lovely klompen sound!:

Dutch Days Virtual Parade

What’s Dutch Days without the big parade?! Many of the photos in our Virtual Dutch Days Parade were from Dutch Days past (courtesy of Rebecca Huizenga). The photos of the Fulton fire trucks and ambulance are former emergency vehicles and were shared with us by the Fulton Fire Department. The photo of the Fulton Police car in front of de Immigrant Windmill was shared with us by the Fulton Police Department. Children were asked to create miniature Dutch Days parade floats and send us pictures, which we also included in the virtual parade. The Street Scrubbing video was sent to us by Sarah Houzenga and taken by Jan Holesinger. Musical and sound recordings featured in the virtual parade are all public domain recordings. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this virtual parade possible!

Virtual Dutch Days Parade: https://1drv.ms/p/s!AueyqAg26RVHuFte9ad8H0skBcXx

Dutch Days Dutch Dinner

There hasn’t been a Dutch Dinner at Dutch Days for quite a few years now, but the Hartman household decided to give it a try and video it! Join Britni and her young sous chefs, Tayla and Ephraim, on their inexpert Dutch cooking adventures! You can find the recipes used below as well. Eet smakelijk (that’s “enjoy your meal” in Dutch)!

Our Dutch Dinner Menu:

Appetizer: Gouda cheese cubes

Drink: Suikerlaar (Dutch hot chocolate)

Main Course: Hutspot (essentially a Dutch pot roast)

Dessert: Olliebollen (Dutch doughnut holes)

Our completed Dutch Dinner ready to eat! Eet smakelijk!

Photos of Dutch Days Past

Photos courtesy of LeAnn Smith and Rebecca Huizenga.

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Information on the Netherlands

Flags of the Netherlands : Did you know that each province of the Netherlands has its own flag? You can view them all here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dutch_flags

History of the Netherlands: This is a brief (very brief) history of the Netherlands to give you some background information!: https://www.amsterdam.info/netherlands/history/

Tulips: Tulips in Holland have a fascinating history. Learn all about Dutch tulips here: https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/travel-inspiration/traditional/tulips.htm.

Wilhelmus (Dutch National Anthem) : Read about and view the lyrics in Dutch and English for “Wilhelmus,” the Dutch National Anthem: https://www.royal-house.nl/topics/national-anthem/music-lyrics-and-customs

Dutch Art

The Netherlands can boast of producing quite a few famous artists. We could tell you about them or you could pay a virtual visit to several Dutch museums and view the artists’ works for yourself: https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/activities/arts-culture/museums-online-and-dutch-masters-at-home.htm

You can also find more information on various Dutch artists here: https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/travel-inspiration/traditional/dutch-masters.htm

Dutch Delicacies

Dutch Cheese: Ever wonder why there are two young men carrying giant wheels of cheese in the Dutch Days parade every year? Because the Netherlands is famous for cheese! Roxane found this fantastic page all about Dutch cheese!: https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/travel-inspiration/traditional/cheese.htm. Trust us, it’s Gouda! (Sorry, we just couldn’t resist!)

Dutch Recipes: Here are some more simple Dutch recipes you can try at home: https://www.thespruceeats.com/search?q=dutch%20food&searchType=recipe

Dutch Collectibles

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Rhea found the following videos on the Dutch city of Delft and Delft pottery:

Delft Pottery: https://www.royaldelft.com/en_gb/trademarks/royal-delft-blue-trademarks/item6278

You can also find more information on Delft here: https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/travel-inspiration/traditional/delft-blue.htm

If you’d like to learn more about the Dutch folk art, Hindeloopen Painting, you can visit this site: http://www.artezan.com/artezan/styles-n-techniques/traditional/hindeloopen.html

Dutch Book List

Whether it’s about the Netherlands, Dutch culture, Dutch food, or books written about or by Dutch people, Schmaling keeps an extensive inventory of Dutch-related books. Here’s an up-to-date list of all our inventory of circulating books about all things Dutch!

Dutch Activities and Games

Bicycles: Want to know how the majority of Dutch people get around these days? Hop on your bikes and experience it first hand! That’s right, bicycles are huge in the Netherlands! So, take advantage of Fulton’s lovely bike trails and travel like a modern Hollander! You can learn more about bicycling in the Netherlands here: https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/activities/cycling/seven-reasons-to-explore-holland-by-bicycle.htm

Famous Dutch People Quiz -Do you know what these 10 Dutch people were famous for? Take our quiz: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7Y3LFHH

I Amsterdam Dutch Activities for Kids : This blog contains lots of activities and crafts from various museums and sites in Amsterdam: https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/blog/family/online-activities-for-kids

Past Times Dutch Crafts : Find out how to make a paper Dutch costume. There are also some yummy recipes for delicious Dutch treats like Speculaas (better known around here as “windmill cookies”): http://www.pasttimeshistory.com/dutch-heritage/

Self-Guided Walking Tours in the Netherlands: If you ever find yourself in the Netherlands, you can download these walking tours to your mobile device and walk through the city with this virtual tour guide. In the meantime, if you happen to be sitting at home or at your office, this link will bring to the index of walking tours by GPSmycity. To explore the Netherlands, choose Europe, then scroll down. You have many Dutch cities to choose from. Choose a city, pick a tour, and scroll down the page. You’ll be able to see some photos and learn about the sites to see on the website!: https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/amsterdam-512.html

Exploring Your Dutch Ancestry

The links below may help genealogists to trace their Dutch ancestry. Thank you to Rebecca Huizenga for sharing these with us!

https://www.wiewaswie.nl/ (Netherlands)

This one is for records from Groningen Province.  In Dutch only.  Click on “Zoeken op naam” to search by name: https://www.allegroningers.nl/

This one is for records from Friesland Province.  Link is to the English version: https://allefriezen.nl/en/

Klompen (Wooden Shoes)

These klompen come from the collection of our own LeAnn Smith! Fun fact: The Netherlands is a very wet country and in the past, the Dutch people would wear wooden shoes, or klompen, to help keep their feet dry!

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Klompen are still made by hand, today. At Dutch Days, there is usually a klompen maker present who gives demonstrations on how to make klompen and even sells wooden shoes at the festival. Below you can see some videos of klompen makers:

Still in need of even more information on wooden shoes? You asked for it!: https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/travel-inspiration/traditional/wooden-shoes.htm

Photos from the Netherlands by Rhea Kraft

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A Photo Tour in the Netherlands

Rebecca Huizenga, a Fulton attorney, embarked on a voyage to the Netherlands in May 2019. She was kind enough to create a photo tour for us of her journey through the provinces of Friesland and Groningen.

Dat Alles

That’s all, folks! Thank you for visiting our Virtual Dutch Days page! We hope you enjoyed it! Whether you’re a Fultonite (Fultonian?) or from out of town, we hope you’ll consider joining us in person next year for Dutch Days, on May 7-8, 2021.