Royal decoration for past-president Dr. Adriana Zylmans
Welkom / Welcome to the website of the Dutch Network!
Events are organized for Dutch-Canadians so that they can get together to celebrate, enhance and preserve the Dutch heritage, Dutch language and Dutch cultural traditions in BC, such as: monthly pub nights and coffee clubs, annual events which include King’s Day, Sinterklaas and the Easter Egg Hunt. Find an overview of our events below. We look forward to seeing you at our events!
If you are interested in getting involved, please click on the link for volunteers in the link above or write us a message via Contact Us.
Royal decoration for past-president Dr. Adriana Zylmans
Royal decoration for past-president Dr. Adriana Zylmans
It is a great honour and with tremendous joy that I am able to share with you that our past-president Dr. Adriana Zylmans received a royal decoration from His Majesty The King of the Netherlands. At the residence of our Consul-General Henk Snoeken, Adriana received her well deserved ‘Lintje’ for her years of service to the Dutch community in British Columbia.
Adriana is past-president of Je Maintiendrai, a 56 years old association that changed its name to Dutch Network a few years ago. There is no doubt by anyone that Adrian’s participation to the association has been instrumental in the preservation and growth of Je Maintiendrai – Dutch Network. She was also long-time President and Executive Board member of other Dutch organisations, such as Haro Place and the Dutch Liberation Canadian Society 2020, just to name a few. It was all this work, across many organizations, that made her a successful candidate to be acknowledged by the King of The Netherlands.
Adriana was part of the organized Dutch community her whole life. The Zylmans family settled in Richmond, BC after immigrating from The Netherlands. Her membership with Je Maintiendrai goes back to the early days and she herself became a member of the association more than 25 years ago. Throughout her membership Adriana participated and volunteered. She was well known in the community for her participation during Sinterklaas celebrations. Even today, senior members of the association know Adriana well and always recall all the things she and her family have done for the community during her life.
Meeting Adriana at home is like walking into a Dutch museum. Her house is filled with traditional memorabilia. Delft’s blue, tiles with Dutch phrases, clogs and farming references, brings your emotions back to a traditional farm along the famous Dutch dikes. Her love for our home country is clear for all to see and there is no doubt that The Netherlands holds a special place in her heart. Her love for Holland created the force of energy and drive needed to transform our association and influence our community.
It is without any doubt, by me, our executive board, by our members and by the Dutch community-at-large, that Adriana deserves recognition for representing The Netherlands and its culture. She does it daily with everything in her heart. I encourage you to congratulate Adriana in the coming days.
Adriana, congratulations! We are proud of you. Thank you for everything you have done for us.
John van Rij
President, Dutch Network
Koninklijke onderscheiding voor voormalig president Dr. Adriana Zylmans
Het is een grote eer en met een enorme vreugde dat ik met u kan delen dat onze voormalig president Dr. Adriana Zylmans een koninklijke onderscheiding heeft ontvangen van Zijne Majesteit de Koning der Nederlanden. Bij de residentie van onze consul-generaal Henk Snoeken ontving Adriana haar welverdiende Lintje voor haar jarenlange dienst aan de Nederlandse gemeenschap in British Columbia.
Adriana is voormalig voorzitter van Je Maintiendrai, een 56 jaren oude vereniging die een paar jaar geleden haar naam veranderde in Dutch Network. Niemand twijfelt eraan dat Adrian’s deelname aan de vereniging een belangrijke rol heeft gespeeld bij het behoud en de groei van Je Maintiendrai – Dutch Network. Ze was ook lange tijd voorzitter en lid van het Raad van Bestuur van andere Nederlandse organisaties, zoals Haro Place en de Dutch Liberation Canadian Society 2020, om er maar een paar te noemen. Het was al dit werk, bij vele organisaties, dat haar tot een succesvolle kandidaat maakte voor erkenning door de Koning der Nederlanden.
Adriana maakte haar hele leven deel uit van de georganiseerde Nederlandse gemeenschap. De familie Zylmans vestigde zich in Richmond, BC na immigratie uit Nederland. Haar lidmaatschap bij Je Maintiendrai gaat terug tot de beginperiode en zij werd zelf meer dan 25 jaar geleden lid van de vereniging. Tijdens haar lidmaatschap was Adriana een vrijwilliger. Ze stond in de gemeenschap bekend om haar deelname aan Sinterklaasvieringen. Zelfs vandaag de dag herkennen onze ourdere leden Adriana. Ze herinneren zich altijd alles wat zij en haar familie tijdens haar leven voor de gemeenschap hebben gedaan.
Adriana thuis ontmoeten is alsof je een Nederlands museum binnenloopt. Haar huis is gevuld met traditionele memorabilia. Delfts blauw, tegels met Nederlandse zinnen, klompen en boerenreferenties, brengt je emoties terug naar een traditionele boerderij langs de beroemde Hollandse dijken. Haar liefde voor ons thuisland is voor iedereen duidelijk zichtbaar en het lijdt geen twijfel dat Nederland een speciaal plekje in haar hart heeft. Haar liefde voor Holland creëerde de kracht van energie en drive die nodig was om onze vereniging te transformeren en onze gemeenschap te beïnvloeden.
Het is zonder enige twijfel, door mij, onze raad van bestuur, door onze leden en door de Nederlandse gemeenschap in het algemeen, dat Adriana erkenning verdient voor haar vertegenwoordiging van Nederland en haar cultuur. Ze doet het dagelijks met alles in haar hart. Ik moedig je aan om Adriana de komende dagen te feliciteren.
Adriana, gefeliciteerd! We zijn trots op je. Bedankt voor alles wat je voor ons hebt gedaan.
John van Rij
Voorzitter, Dutch Network
Latest News
New documentary celebrates Canadian role in the liberation of the Netherlands
Made-in-B.C. broadcast marking the 75th Anniversary airs on Global BC on November 7, 2020. Ottawa, ON - November 3, 2020 – It’s been 75 years since Canadians helped liberate the Netherlands during the Second World War and created everlasting bonds of friendship...
Abbotsford educator receives Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence
Source: The Abbotsford News Debbie Mar of Upper Sumas Elementary only one in B.C. named for national honour An Abbotsford teacher is among 10 recipients – and the only one in B.C. – of the national Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. The award recipients...
Survey Into Services Provided By The Dutch Government
Woont, werkt of studeert u buiten Nederland? Doe mee met onderzoek naar de dienstverlening van de Nederlandse overheid De Nederlandse (Rijks)overheid wil de dienstverlening aan Nederlanders in het buitenland verder verbeteren. Uw ervaringen met die dienstverlening en...
Coquitlam Dutch Koffie Club – Cancelled
January 19 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm|Recurring Event (See all)An event every week that begins at 10:00 am on Wednesday, repeating until December 27, 2028
There is a new koffie club in Coquitlam. Contact Piet Boudewijn at 604 464-3031 or email at pjbhjb(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)telus.net. The group meets every Wednesday from 10 am to 12 pm at the Food Court at Coquitlam Centre Mall (enter Coquitlam Centre at the rig...
Morning Nature Walks
January 21 @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am|Recurring Event (See all)An event every week that begins at 9:30 am on Friday, repeating indefinitely
MORNING NATURE WALKS Jeanette van Hattem hosts the Friday Free Nature Walk. She loves the great outdoors, local walks, trails and forest and dyke. She discovers something new every day and would like to share with people that have the same interest or want to learn about their na...
Dutch Connections Radio Show
January 22 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am|Recurring Event (See all)An event every week that begins at 8:00 am on Saturday, repeating indefinitely
How to listen to us: Dial in every Saturday 8-9 am PST to Dutch Connections Radio with Host Harma Volders she’ll connect us to those within our Dutch Community. LISTEN LIVE: RADIO – 91.5 FM PC – www.connectfm.ca APPS – to listen to radio shows on your phon...
Coquitlam Dutch Koffie Club – Cancelled
January 26 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm|Recurring Event (See all)An event every week that begins at 10:00 am on Wednesday, repeating until December 27, 2028
There is a new koffie club in Coquitlam. Contact Piet Boudewijn at 604 464-3031 or email at pjbhjb(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)telus.net. The group meets every Wednesday from 10 am to 12 pm at the Food Court at Coquitlam Centre Mall (enter Coquitlam Centre at the rig...
North Surrey Klaverjas Club
January 26 @ 11:30 am - 4:00 pm|Recurring Event (See all)An event every month that begins at 11:30 am on day Last of the month, repeating indefinitely
One event on May 23, 2018 at 11:30 am
One event on June 27, 2018 at 11:30 am
The Dutch North Surrey Klaverjas Club meets once a month at St. Matthews Roman Catholic Church, 16079-88th Avenue, Surrey, BC, in the Fire Site Room. (Click here for map.) The cost is $5 per person per month, and includes coffee, tea, cookies and snacks. Join the club on the last...
