Hendrik Willem van Loon Lecture

The Netherland-America Foundation (NAF) and Stichting Vrienden van de Oude of Pelgrimvaderskerk are launching a new annual lecture in the Netherlands: the Hendrik Willem van Loon Lecture.

Annually, the NAF will invite a high-profile American or Dutch keynote speaker to reflect on the theme of Freedom as the core value binding the United States of America and the Netherlands.

Hendrik Willem van Loon

The lecture series is named after Hendrik Willem van Loon (1882-1944), a Rotterdam-born journalist, historian and writer who became one of the best-known Dutch-Americans in history.

His devotion to freedom and democracy in both his native and adopted home country played a significant role in American society in the first half of the twentieth century. It was also the cornerstone of his close friendship with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Van Loon, through his books, articles and radio broadcasts played a key role in mobilizing forces against Fascism, Nazism and totalitarianism both in the United States and the Netherlands.

Inaugural Speaker

William A. Harris, director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York, will deliver the inaugural lecture. He will speak about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt viewed and developed the FDR Library as a symbol of American democracy. When the Library was opened, the world was aflame.

In the aftermath of the death of Franklin Roosevelt and the end of World War II, Eleanor shaped the Library’s future with a focus on research and on-going debate.

Harris will discuss the history of the Library, the Roosevelt and the signifcant of institutions such as the FDR Library in today’s communities.

Pilgrim Fathers Church

The venue in Rotterdam, the birthplace of Van Loon connects crucial aspects of Dutch-American relations.

The Old or Pilgrim Fathers Church is located on the Aelbrechtskolk, in the middle of beautiful historic Delfshaven.

The Pilgrim Fathers, a group of religious refugees, fled from England to the Netherlands at the beginning of the 17th century. After a twelve-year stay in Amsterdam and Leiden, they decided in 1620 to venture across to the 'New World', hoping to find a new homeland there.

In the harbor of Delfshaven near the church they embarked to start their adventurous journey with the 'Speedwell'. The departure from Delfshaven in 1620 is depicted in a large painting called Embarkation of the Pilgrims, painted by Robert W. Weir for the United States Congress. The artwork hangs in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington since 1844.

For more information on the Lecture, contact:

• Merijn Boender (NAF): [email protected] or [email protected]
• Marjan van Schijndel (Stichting Vrienden van de Oude of Pelgrimvaderskerk): [email protected]

The Netherland-America Foundation

The Netherland-America Foundation Inc. is not-for-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of New York and operates under the patronage of HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and her husband, Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven.

In accordance with the bylaws of the NAF, to this day, the mutual sitting ambassadors are invited to serve as the honorary chair and the Consul General in New York as honorary president.

The NAF has chapters in New England, Houston, New York, Northern California, Southern California, Washington DC, and the Netherlands.

The NAF’s education programs annually support dozens of Fulbright fellowships, provides interest-free loans to Dutch and American students, sponsors dozens of internships, provides grants to artists and cultural events, promotes and support business and networking events, and supports Dutch non-profit institutions with their fundraising in the USA.

More information can be found on: www.thenaf.org.

Contact:

Caroliene Hermans, Executive Director

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: +1-212.825.1221

505 8th Avenue, Suite 12A-05

New York, NY 10018

United States

Stichting Vrienden van de Oude of Pelgrimvaderskerk (Friends of the Old or Pilgrim Fathers Church Foundation)

For the social preservation of the historic church and extra financial support, the Friends of the Old or Pilgrim Fathers Church Foundation give a helping hand. The Foundation has an ANBI status and receives donations from individuals and companies.

For information on making a donation for Dutch taxpayers: https://www.oudeofpelgrimvaderskerk.nl/en/friends

Specifically for U.S. taxpayers, the Netherlands America Foundation (NAF) has established a legal structure to facilitate tax-efficient cooperation in fundraising for the Old or Pilgrimfathers' Church. The Friends Fund of the NAF gives U.S. donors the advantage of a U.S. income and gift tax deduction for their gifts. This means your contributions will be tax-deductible for the purpose of U.S. federal and state taxes, to the extent permitted by federal and state law. To donate to the Old or Pilgrimfathers' Church using the Friends Fund Program of the NAF, click here.

More information can be found on: https://www.oudeofpelgrimvaderskerk.nl/en/friends

Contact:

Marjan van Schijndel, Secretary

Email: [email protected]

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher The Netherland-America Foundation