Our Tours

A teacher with a passion for people, stories, and Dutch history

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My name is Edward van Veen. I’m a teacher from the Netherlands with a big interest in people and history.​

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In 2022, I cycled across the United States along the TransAmerica Trail. During that trip, I met many Americans with Dutch roots. They often told me they would love to visit the Netherlands one day and see the places where their ancestors once lived. But when I asked how they planned to do that, they didn’t know where to begin. Organizing such a trip in a foreign country can feel difficult and confusing.​

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That’s why I decided to help.

Because family history is more than names and dates — it’s about feeling the past

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My goal is to help people connect with their family history in a personal and meaningful way.​

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I don’t create long, detailed reports. Instead, I focus on the experience, walking the same streets, seeing the same church, standing near the house or land your ancestors once knew. That’s when history comes to life.

A personal journey into your family’s Dutch past

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Before your visit, you send me everything you already know about your Dutch ancestors, a birth certificate, marriage document, a village name, or even just a last name. With this information, I will prepare a special day for you.

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I will search for extra details, try to find the exact place your family lived, and learn more about their life in the Netherlands. Then, during your stay, I will pick you up from your hotel and take you on a personal trip to explore your family’s hometown and the area around it.

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Together, we might visit:

• The house, farm, or street where your ancestors once lived

• The local church or graveyard, maybe even their grave

• A town square, a café, or the fields they worked in

• And when possible, we can meet with the town archivist to learn more

 

We’ll also enjoy a bit of Dutch culture along the way, maybe visit a castle, a small historic town, or a museum nearby. The day is flexible and relaxed, and we go at your pace.

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At the end of the tour, I’ll bring you back to your hotel, hopefully with new memories, special moments, and a deeper connection to your Dutch roots.