Meet the Dutch in Chicago

You might have already seen the tulips, artsy bike installations and windmills on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile these past weeks. If you were wondering, yes, that’s the doing of us Dutch people, in partnership with the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association.

Last Monday I went to the Dutch Consulate’s celebration of Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day at the Harold Washington Library, where we all sang the American and Dutch national anthems and toasted to the queen’s health. The consul mentioned in his speech that the Dutch have the longest standing official relations with the Americans, dating back to John Adams (America’s first Vice President and second President), who secured diplomatic recognition of the newly founded United States (the Netherlands were the first state to do so) and became the ambassador to the Netherlands shortly thereafter.

Back to the present, the Consulate has initiated a Web site called “Meet the Dutch,” which has a small calendar of events. Many have already passed, but there are still some Dutch-inspired events coming up. And, of course, don’t forget that the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s very own Dutch cultural icon, Bernard Haitink, is coming to Chicago to conduct the orchestra in Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 on May 10, 11, 12 and 15.

2 May 2007 | All things Chicago, All things Dutch, Cultural Affairs, International Affairs | Comments