Honoring a Dutch Legacy: The Dutch Colonial Society

Long before the English colonies flourished on the Eastern Seaboard, it was Dutch ships and settlers who first laid claim to what would become parts of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut. The story of New Netherland is a vital chapter in early American history, and the Dutch Colonial Society, a lineage-based organization, was founded to preserve and promote the legacy of those early Dutch pioneers.

From trade and architecture to religious tolerance and urban planning, the Dutch influence on American colonial life is lasting and profound. Through the efforts of the Dutch Colonial Society, descendants of those early settlers have kept their ancestors’ stories alive while fostering a deeper understanding of America’s multicultural foundations.

The Dutch in Colonial America

The Dutch West India Company established the colony of New Netherland in 1624 as a fur trading outpost. Over the next four decades, Dutch settlers—many of them families from the Netherlands, Walloon regions, and other parts of Europe—built towns like New Amsterdam (modern-day New York City), Beverwijck (Albany), and Fort Orange (present-day Rensselaer).

Their contributions were significant:

They promoted religious tolerance rare in other colonies.
They introduced city planning, including grid layouts and public markets.
They developed trade networks that spanned Europe, the Caribbean, and North America.
They maintained relatively peaceful relations and trade with local Indigenous peoples (though not without conflict).

Despite England’s conquest of New Netherland in 1664, Dutch cultural and familial influence endured through the centuries in areas of the Northeast.

Founding of the Dutch Colonial Society

The Dutch Colonial Society of Delaware was founded in 1962 on the occasion of the Tercentenary of the first Dutch settlements in the Delaware Valley by the Historical Society of Lewes (formerly Zwaanendael), Delaware. It was formed to create a space for those who descend from Dutch ancestors who settled in the American colonies before the Treaty of Westminster in 1674—when the Dutch permanently ceded New Netherland to the English.

Its founding members envisioned a society that would:

Honor the memory of Dutch ancestors who lived in America during the 17th century;
Promote the study of Dutch colonial history, including family genealogies;
Support historic preservation efforts, particularly those tied to early Dutch settlements;
Encourage fellowship among descendants, regardless of geographic location.

Membership Eligibility

Membership in the Dutch Colonial Society is open to men and women who can prove direct descent from a Dutch ancestor as a Colonial Member or a Non-colonial Member.

Colonial Member: Proven direct descent from a Dutch settler born in the Netherlands, and who immigrated, no later than 19 April 1775, to any settlement in what is now the United States. Also eligible are direct descendants of selected non-Dutch ancestors who resided in New Netherland prior to the Treaty of Westminster, 1674, or settled in what is now the United States no later than 19 April 1775, AND who have proven significant service to Dutch heritage in business, cultural, military, religious or political affairs either in the Netherlands and/or the United States.
Non-colonial Member: Proven direct descent from any native of the Netherlands who settled in the United States after 19 April 1775.

Examples of qualifying ancestors include:

Settlers of New Netherland (now New York, New Jersey, Delaware),
Early Dutch traders and colonists in the Hudson River Valley,
Soldiers, clergy, or civil officers serving under the Dutch West India Company.

Applicants must submit thorough genealogical documentation including:

Vital records,
Church records (particularly Dutch Reformed Church baptisms, marriages, and burials),
Land deeds, wills, and probate records.

The society maintains a membership register and provides guidance on documentation standards for prospective members.

Activities and Contributions

The Dutch Colonial Society is active in:

Supporting historic preservation projects, including partnerships with museums and cultural sites like the New-York Historical Society and the New Netherland Institute.
Encouraging the publication of genealogical and historical research relating to Dutch settlers.
Hosting virtual and in-person gatherings, including annual meetings and lectures on Dutch-American history.
Promoting the celebration of Dutch heritage, such as through King’s Day (Koningsdag), New Amsterdam history tours, or Dutch-American Heritage Day (November 16).

The society also fosters collaboration with other heritage groups, including the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century and the Huguenot Society.

Notable Dutch Colonial Families

Many prominent American families trace their lineage to early Dutch colonists, including:

The Roosevelts (Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt),
The Vanderbilts, famed for their industrial wealth,
The Van Cortlandts, Van Rensselaers, and Schuylers—major Hudson River Valley landowners,
Peter Stuyvesant, last Dutch director-general of New Netherland.

Conclusion

The Dutch Colonial Society offers a unique lens through which to view early American history—not solely from an English colonial perspective, but through the vibrant legacy of Dutch settlers who helped shape the country’s foundation. Through lineage, education, and preservation, the society connects past and present, reminding us that America’s roots are as diverse as the people who built it.

If you suspect Dutch colonial heritage in your family tree, joining the Dutch Colonial Society is a meaningful way to honor your ancestors and keep their stories alive.