The Last Illusion
Letters from Dutch Immigrants in the "Land of Opportunity," 1924-1930

Herman Ganzevoort

About the Book

Until now, information about Dutch immigration to Canada has been scarce, as much was lost during the German occupation of Holland during World War II. However, Herman Ganzevoort was able to unearth and translate rare letters and articles written by Dutch immigrants during the 1920s, which offer new insight into the struggles the Dutch faced to fit into their new country.

The letters opened up the inner dimensions of the immigrants: the reasons for their emigration, their hopes, their fears, and best of all, their experiences in Canada. These images are not reminiscences screened and filtered by the passage of time, but immediate and compelling.

The writers shared their feelings and showed an openness that was uncommon in their culture and time. Their words describe the pain caused by separation and loss, and the sense of shared joy and exhilaration when goals were reached.

About the Series

The aim of the series is to publish material that either has never been published or is out of print. The mandate of Legacies Shared is broad, as we plan to make available parts of our "legacy" of historical memories that have been overlooked or have disappeared. Each volume contains an introduction appropriate to the subject, which migh be a work of history, a memoir, collections of letters, photographs, art work, maps, or recipes, works of fiction or poetry, or sets of archival documents. Oral history will also have a place in the series. The geographical area covered by this series is the Canadian west and north, but also across the Canada/U.S. border.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. De Vrije Socialist, 2 July 1924
2. De Arnhemsch Courant, 17 January 1925
3. De Avondpost, 13, 14, 15 January 1925
4. Hoogeveensche Courant, 23 December 1925
5. De Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant, 29 December 1925, 16 March 1926, 25 March 1926, 26 May 1926
6. Haagsche Post, 24 April 1926
7. De Arnhemsche Courant, 4 February 1928
8. Het Vaterland, 3 January 1930
9. De Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant, 29 October to 13 November 1927
10. Dagblad Van Arnhem, 15 December 1928
11. Schuitemaker's Purmerender Courant, 28 April 1925 to 12 November 1927
12. Leeuwarder Nieuwsblad, 4 April 1927 to 11 April 1929
13. De Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant, 29 September 1929 to 1 June 1930

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