The Society of Daughters of Holland Dames: Honoring the Early Settlers of New Netherland

The Society of Daughters of Holland Dames, Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Families of New Netherland is one of the oldest and most respected lineage societies in the United States devoted to preserving Dutch colonial history. Founded in the late 19th century, it continues to celebrate and honor the early Dutch settlers whose contributions laid the foundation for New York, New Jersey, and the broader Mid-Atlantic region.

Formation of the Society

The Society of Daughters of Holland Dames was founded in 1895. At the time, groups such as the Daughters of the American Revolution (1890)and the Colonial Dames of America (1891) were being established by women who sought to honor their ancestors’ roles in shaping early America.

The Holland Dames distinguished themselves by focusing on the era of New Netherland (1609–1674)—when Dutch merchants, farmers, and settlers established thriving communities along the Hudson River and founded what became New Amsterdam, now New York City.

Their founders—women descended from these Dutch settlers—organized the society to:

Preserve the history and legacy of the Dutch colony of New Netherland.
Promote scholarship and education about early Dutch contributions to America.
Foster friendship among descendants of those early families.

The society was incorporated in New York State shortly after its founding and remains headquartered in New York City.

Mission and Purpose

From its inception, the mission of the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames has been threefold:

Collect and preserve genealogical and historical documents relating to the Dutch in America
Encourage excellence in historical research of Dutch colonists in America
Establish commemorative and durable memorials in lasting tribute to the early Dutch settlers
Perpetuate the memory and promote the virtues of the early Dutch colonists whose ideals of tolerance, enterprise, and civic order influenced the formation of modern America.

The Society’s motto reflects these ideals: “Eendracht maakt macht” — “Unity makes strength.”

Membership

Membership in the Society is open to women who can prove lineal descent from a Dutch settler who lived in New Netherland or in one of the Dutch communities in colonial America before 1674, the year the English took permanent control of the colony.

Applicants must provide documentary proof of ancestry, often drawn from church records, wills, land grants, and genealogical sources maintained by the Society and related historical organizations.

Membership represents women from some of the most historically significant Dutch families in America, including the Van Cortlandts, Stuyvesants, Schuylers, Beekmans, and Roosevelts.

Legacy and Continuing Influence

The Society of Daughters of Holland Dames stands as a vital link between modern Americans and their Dutch colonial forebears. Its members have ensured that the legacy of tolerance, commerce, and community service introduced by New Netherland’s settlers remains recognized as a formative influence in American history.

In a city and nation known for diversity, the Holland Dames remind us that New York’s multicultural identity began not in the 19th century, but in the 1600s—with the Dutch settlers whose colony valued freedom of conscience and enterprise long before such ideals became cornerstones of the American republic.

Conclusion

Since its founding in 1895, the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames has remained steadfast in its mission to preserve the memory of New Netherland’s founders and the enduring Dutch influence on American society.

Through its educational programs, archival preservation, and civic engagement, the Society ensures that the stories of New York’s earliest families—and their ideals of unity, perseverance, and liberty—continue to inspire future generations.

The Holland Dames remind us that beneath the skyscrapers of modern Manhattan lies a Dutch foundation—one built on the same values that continue to define America today.