Frisian immigrants
Strong
In all those years, many Dutch emigrated to Michigan, as well as many Frisians. They are a different story. It seems to be that they have a much stronger link with their home country, being Fryslân (Friesland). They emigrated for the same reasons as the Dutch, but for many older emigrants there only exist one country: Friesland. Friesland is a provience of the Netherlands which, through out history, belonged to either the Netherlands or Germany, distancing the people from the rest of the Dutch.Peak
During the emigration of the Frisians, there were two peaks. After 1845, many emigrants immigranted because in 1834 "de Afgescheidenen" ("the Dissentings") were founded (official "de Christelijk Afgescheidenen" ["the Christian Dissentings"], and later on they became the "Calvinists"). They approved of the US, the country of religious liberty, something they missed in the Netherlands (which had a large measure of religious liberty in the past). As a second reason, economy in the province of Friesland was poor.Vriesland
The first Frisian settlement in Michigan was "Vriesland". It was founded by Reverend M.A. Ypma, who was asked by the "Christelijke Vereniging voor Emigratie naar Amerika" ("Christian Society for Emigration to America") to lead them. He, his wife Jetske van der Tol and 80 other emigrants went with the sailing ship "Vesta" the same way as Van Raalte went to Michigan.Ypma was the first reverend of the "Reformed Church", what the people appreciated very much. Later on he became reverend in "Graafschap", "Laage Prairie" ("Low Prairie", now it's called "South Holland", Illinois) and in "Alto", Wisconsin. Ypma died in "Alto" in 1863, and he was burried in "Vriesland".
After 1880...
After 1880 was the second peak, through the agriculture crisis. The "molkfeint" (the nick name for the emigrants from the province of Friesland from that time) went to Germany, but many went to America as well. Most went to California and Wisconsin, but many still came to Michigan.Do they speak Frisian in Friesland?
Frisians do speak Frisian. But are the 4th generation immigrants from the province of Friesland who are still speaking Frisian in the US? Yes, they exist. In the village Friesland in Wisconsin, they speak Frisian at the streets as much as possible, only the youngest generation speak almost only English.Strong?
Frisians are very proud of Friesland. Many considered themselves to have two homelands: where they lived now and the province of Friesland. Some of them dreamt of their old homeplace every night in Friesland.Zeeland
Another large Frisian settlement is Zeeland, Michigan, and a while ago the "Burgummer Mannenkoor" ("Burgummer Male Choir") visitted it. They sang some old Dutch numbers, which many Frisians sang along with. Many people cried thinking about their home in Friesland.Country of Dreams and Wishes
The immigrants went to the US because that was the "country of dreams and wishes". Some of them had made their fortune there. Others had less luck, and wanted to go back, but they hadn't the money for it, so they stayed equally poor as they were in the Netherlands and their province of Friesland.One woman's description embodies the thoughts of many Frisians:
"Ik soe der noch sa graach ris sjen wolle. Ik dream der wolris fan, mar it kin net mear. Wy binne te âld, de sûnens lit it net mear ta. Fryslân is it lân fan dream en winsken!"Translation: "I would like to see it once. I dream of it sometimes, but it isn't possible anymore. We are too old, our health isn't good enough for it. Friesland is the country of dreams and wishes!"
