When, in the early hours of March 29, 1911, fire gutted much of the New York State Capitol and State Library, few people, if any, could have been more devastated than State Archivist Arnold J.F. van Laer. Hundreds of thousands of books and documents were either burned up or severely damaged, including the 17th century Dutch colonial records that Van Laer had begun to translate.
How Jan van Riebeeck’s 1652 landing at the Cape laid the foundation for Cape Town, shaping South Africa’s history, culture, and language.
Most of us have heard of Ferdinand Magellan and Francis Drake—early explorers who sailed around the world. One was Portuguese, the other English. But what about Olivier van Noort? Between 1598 and 1601, van Noort became the first Dutchman to complete a circumnavigation of the globe.
Several private organizations also provide valuable genealogical information. While many offer content in English, some are only in Dutch. These sites include searchable databases, surname and archive directories, and links to regional resources. Some require membership for full access, while others provide free tools and research tips. Though not all focus exclusively on genealogy, their collections—ranging from name studies to family trees and historical records—can be useful for anyone researching Dutch ancestry.
Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos co-founded Amway, a network sales company distributing household products through multi-level dealer recruitment and sales.
Unlike pinup star Betty Grable, June Allyson built a lasting career with over 100 roles, performing actively into her late 80s.
James Van Allen, American physicist and space scientist, discovered Earth's radiation belts — named the Van Allen Belts — through experiments on early satellites, launching modern space science.
George Allen was a successful NFL coach who turned two struggling teams, including the Los Angeles Rams, into winners. He was named Coach of the Year in 1967 before being dismissed.
James Isaac Van Alen, baptized Jacobus, was a New York congressman and half-brother of President Martin Van Buren, born 1772.
William Van Alen, a respected New York architect, worked on the Hotel Astor and studied in Paris after winning the 1908 Paris Prize, later designing the iconic Chrysler Building.
