Welcome to the web site of the Dutch Connection of Arizona! If this is your first visit to our site, we're glad you found us! The Dutch Connection is a non-profit organization dedicated to getting people with a Dutch heritage in Arizona connected. Don't worry if you don't speak Dutch or if you've never been to Holland - we welcome everyone who has an interest in celebrating the Dutch culture with us! The club organizes several popular events throughout the year, including Koninginnedag, Dutch-American Heritage day and Sinterklaas. Interested in joining the Connection? You can register right here on-line!
Eric Vandewater,
Webmaster
|
 In 2009, sweeping changes have been introduced in the procedure for Dutch passport applications. Honorary Consul Siebe van der Zee has provided some very helpful guidelines. Please review this important information if your passport is about to expire.
|
While the Annual Meeting represents the formal part of our Dutch Connection in Arizona, the 23 members who attended did not let it keep them from making it a gathering of friendship and good times. Yes, it was gezellig. As our president Drew de Weerd was in Germany for business, VP - Johan Bolle skillfully conducted the meeting. Everyone was welcomed, new members were introduced and the board asked for new ideas for activities. New Board member Peter Hofland demonstrated leadership here as he announced that he will coordinate a home-cooked Rijsttafel event in the Spring. More details will be provided under the Events tab of the site. Other ideas that were floated included a Bicycle ride, Mosselfeest and Haring Party. Potential organizers are still at large.
After approving the financial report by treasurer Benno Kuipers and election of the new Board, Siebe van der Zee, our Honorary Consul spoke about the new Dutch Consulate Office in San Francisco and changes in the passport renewal procedure. Siebe also informed us about new initiatives to strengthen business ties between The Netherlands and Arizona, with an emphasis on clean energy technologies.
The meeting was concluded with a profound THANK YOU to outgoing VP Johan Bolle for his many years of service on the Board and an invitation to all members to follow his example and engage in organizing events that establish and nurture the connection between the Dutch in Arizona. Thank you, as always to Marceline Vandewater for organizing and reporting on the meeting.
Bert te Velde - VP
|
Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) along with two Zwarte Pieten visited  the DCAZ children on December 6, 2009. This annual DCAZ event, popular with young and old, was particularly well-attended this year by families with small children.
This year the event was held in a new venue near Papago Park in Phoenix. Sinterklaas and his helpers arrived in style in a red Mustang convertible! Het Grote Boek was very complete with details of the children's accomplishments for the year. Different from the modern American Santa Claus rushed photo-op, Sinterklaas took the time and opportunity to talk with each kid about their interests. Sinterklaas encouraged the children to do well at school and in their activities. Each child received a chocolate letter from the Sint and the traditional pepernoten with candy from the Pieten.
The DCAZ Library of children's books  was on display at the party. Attendees were able to check out Dutch kids books or donate books their children had outgrown.
The mid-afternoon party was a potluck. While there were a few traditional dishes, such as hutspot and Dutch cheese, several club members brought a sweet treat. There were real Sinterklaas specialties such as taai taai and marsepein, and year-round favorites like spekulaas windmill cookies and appeltaart.
It is great that kids who live so far away from the Netherlands can still share the fun of Sinterklaas with their families. Thanks to all who attended and the organizers of this traditional event.
-
The Reinalda Family -
|
We're happy to introduce the board of directors for the Dutch Connection of Arizona. We welcome their energy and dedication to help make this organization a great success.
|
President
VP
Secretary
Treasurer
Director
|
Drew De Weerd
Bert te Velde
Marceline VandeWater
Benno Kuipers
Peter Hofland |
|
Click here for if you would like to email the board.
|
|
Check out the latest messages posted by our members. You can respond or write your own. |
| Topic | Reply |
| Nieuw in Phoenix | 4 |
| Nederlandstalige kranten | 0 |
| Paspoort | 3 |
| Belastingaangifte | 3 |
| Nederlands elftal speelt hier deze week .... | 1 |
|
| |
|
|
Our website is constantly updated with articles related to Holland, the US in general and Arizona in particular. Below is a list of the most recent news links. You can also browse our archive for articles we've posted earlier. Please help us keep our news up to date. Send us an email if you come accross any interesting links or articles on the Internet.
|
| Latest News |
|
| Dutch government falls over Afghanistan policy |
 20 February - The Dutch Government, led by prime minister Balkenende (CDA), fell over disagreements about the Afghanistan policy. Wouter Bos and his PvdA party members resigned from the cabinet after extended discussions about returning the 2000 troops home from Uruzgan by the end of 2010. The remaining parties wanted to take more time to respond to NATO's request to extend the mission. The Netherlands added time to the mission in the Southern province of Uruzgan in 2007 and agreed tho return by 2010. The PvdA ministers sought to uphold that decision. This is the fourth Balkenende cabinet that fails so sit out the full 4 year term. Balkende IV would have marked three years of governing next Monday. |
|
|
| "Ships, Explorers and the World Trade Center" |
 If you are planning a trip to New York this month, make time to visit the new exhibit: "Ships, Explorers and the World Trade Center". The exhibition, open to the public February 2-28, 2010 (weekdays 11 to 3:30 and by appointment), is curated by Margaret Stocker, Trustee of the India House Foundation. The exhibition features discoveries, artifacts, and multimedia that illustrate the Dutch maritime history in Manhattan / New York. |
|
|
| Dutch adoption plane airlifts 106 Haitian kids |
 21 January - EINDHOVEN, Netherlands - A Dutch airlift brought 106 children from quake-ravaged Haiti to new lives in the Netherlands and Luxembourg on Thursday, as anxious families waited to hug children they had been in the process of adopting for months.
|
|
|
| What winter looks like |
 9 January- Remember the real Dutch winters? Certainly different than what we are experiencing in AZ. While the government is running out of salt to keep the roads open, many take to the ice. The attached file gives a spectacular impression of a day on the ice. Theo Berkvens from Amsterdam provided the image posted with this newslink and forwarded the link to the skating trip. |
|
|
| Dutch "Under-17" soccer team plays in Phoenix |
 On Monday December 7 the Dutch "Under 17" soccer team will play against the USA team. Place & Time: Reach 11 Sport Complex Phoenix, at 7pm. See link for further details. |
|
|
|
|
|
