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#2

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#40

August 27, 2002

Dear One and All:

I'm finally getting around to writing about our trip . I'm also sending pictures of the first part, regarding our family. We had the most marvelous trip possible. Both Connie and I want to return in a few years.

The scenery in the province of Gelderland (where our family originated) is so much like Iowa. Lush green pastures, cattle, pigs and sheep grazing, apple and pear orchards, green all over. The area also gets plenty of rain; we saw more rain in 6 days then we see here in 6 years. It was only around 70s the whole time we were there, and like Iowa there is a lot of humidity.

We left the Schiphol Airport, in Amsterdam and drove to Dreumel (1) where Bill and Elaine (2) were staying with his sister and brother-in-law.

Everyone is so gracious and welcome you with open arms and the Dutch kiss (which is three kisses, the first on the right cheek, second on the left and the third on the right). Elaine took us to the local florist (3-4) to see the flowers she had ordered for their Anniversary party.

On Friday, August 2nd, we travel about 45 min. west to go to Gendt (5). I'm standing in the "Rotunda". These circles are all over the Netherlands instead of four way stops. The person driving in the circle has the right-of-way. When you get in you can go around the circle and exit whichever way you want to go.

Our first stop in Gendt was at the Milder Bakery (6-12), which is a very popular place. They make all kinds of bread, rolls, pastries, cakes and candies. Of course we sampled some of the goodies.

With the help of one of the employees who spoke good English, we were able to talk to Roelof Milder (13), the owner. He got tears in his eyes when we told him about the Milders in America and that we came to see him. He even wore the wooden shoes.

His younger son, Johnny (14) came to meet us - he knew some English. Roelof was born in 1927. His parents were Johannes Milder (4-26-1880) and Theodora M Kuster (3-20-1887) and they were married 4-29-1910. This Johannes Milder was the son of Johannes and Maria Hendriks.

Also we met Roelof's oldest son's wife, Pauline and his three children.

The next day we met Johnny at his house (17-18). He has two adopted sons from Ethiopia. You see one in the picture.

Next door lives Geert Milder and Marianne Hettinga Milder (19 24)_ His great -grandfather was Gradus, who is a brother to Johannes, our great-grandfather.

He is a professor in economic and has done a lot of research on the Milder family - I left pictures of Johannes's family and John Henry's family. He is the one we really need to keep in contact with, because they come to the USA at least 3 times a year. He has a sister in New York. Geert speaks very fluent English. He does stain glass pictures on the side. Most businesses in the area are right near your house, you don't have to travel miles to go to work. Vincent Milder (16) has a business on the outskirts of town. It is a stonework place. He was on vacation because he just got married.

Also we stopped at the Catholic church (25-26) and met the priest who showed us the archives proving that our great - grandfather got married on Feb. l, 1872. Father translated the entry to tell us that the Bishop had to dispense from the 3 weeks of publishing the bands because Johannes had come back soon enough. It also states that they left for America on Feb. 3rd. One of bit of information, Geert told us that_ after WWII there were 150 Milders in Holland.

We also went to Doornenberg, where our great-grandparents were born (27). We had lunch at this cafeteria (28) which turned out to be next to the cemetery (29) Only found one grave site for a Milder.

Also while there we went to a grocery store (30-31) cheese and bread are big items. Apartments in the area are small (32).

We also visited the famous castle (33). The countryside is beautiful and all houses are brick, a few are still thatched (34-36).

Friday night we drove to Nijmegen, where more Milders live. You cross the Waal River (37) coming into town and many restaurant are along the river, plus a Casino (38-39), see it is in my blood.

We randomly picked a hotel to stay at to find out it was 2 blocks from Ana Milders apartment. (40). She just turned 78 and we saw a picture of her older sisters and several look so much like Louise and Wilma. Enclosed in the packet is the marriage license of her parents. Her parents moved to Nijmegen in 1923 and are also buried there. I figured out that her great grandfather is a brother to our great-great grandfather.

I hope you all have fun looking at the family history - I'm sending Vince the book that we got from Geert where he traced his family history. He has a-friend who can translate the Dutch.

We then spent three days in Amsterdam and only touched the tip of the iceberg of visiting museums, shops, parks and zoos. We went to the floriade, which is an international flower show that only comes once every 10 years. While in Amsterdam we rode trains, trams, buses and canal boats. Public transportation is wonderful- We want to go back in a couple of years to meet more people - we told everyone we would be back..

Cathy and Connie