Dutch migration - 3 (English subtitles)

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In each of the three countries of emigration, the emigrants founded a Dutch colony. Holland in American Michigan is well-known, but Tres Arroyos in Argentina is also a close-knit Dutch community, so much so that one did not like to be seen with an Argentinian fiancé. In Canada, Joe, the son of our emigrant Vergouwen, attended the Van Aken School, which has since been demolished.

The Dutch colonists in Strathmore, Canada, where the Vergouwens also ended up, followed the Catholic priest Van Aken at the beginning of the 20th century. He traveled around West Brabant in search of poor farmers (and their sons) who were willing to try their luck on the vast plains of Canada. "Ready-made farms" on land that was infinitely available. Van Aken received a commission for every farmer he brought in and transferred from the Canadian railways, which arranged emigration in Canada. And the riches Van Aken promised did not always materialize. After the first emigrants had named their colony Akenstad, the enthusiasm quickly waned. Van Aken did not seem overly interested in or involved with his emigrants and faced accusations that he was enriching himself at their expense. Eventually, Van Aken left Canada, as well as the church, married, and moved to America, where he died and is buried on Long Island.