21 Jan 2010.
21 Jan 2010.
I would love to hear from you. Email to hugo@accountant.com
Send me news or memorabilia of the Groote Beer. Or if you want any help in Australia or information ask me.
We left the Dutch port of Rotterdam on 25 October 1955. We are standing on the bottom row: in the centre is dad Jan (with hat and camera), then from right Sjon, me, Marlies and mum Ria.
Enjoying the hot weather on board the Groote Beer in the Red Sea. On the left is Dad, then sitting on the deck are Marlies, Sjon and me, with a friend Mr Scholten behind me sitting in the deck chair. My mother is sitting in the centre behind the table. With our family is the family Scholten who left the boat at Fremantle and then went to live in Melbourne.
See some photos of our migration.
ORIGINALLY IT WAS "COSTA RICA VICTORY"
Built by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, Calif. in 1944, she was a standard wartime type 'Victory' ship. - 9,140 gross tons, length 455.3ft x beam 62.1ft, one funnel, two masts, single screw and a speed of 15 knots. There was capacity for 828 one-class passengers. Launched on 17/6/1944 as the "Costa Rica Victory" she was used as a US Army transport and in 1952 was sold to the Netherlands Government for use as an emigrant ship.
Managed by the Holland America Line, she was renamed "Groote Beer" (Great Bear) and on 18/6/1952 she commenced her first Rotterdam - Halifax - New York voyage. In August 1952 she made her first Rotterdam - Quebec sailing and in August 1965 made the last of 105 round voyages when she sailed from Rotterdam for New York.
Sold to Greek owners in 1965, she made four educational cruises between June and August 1966. In 1969 she was renamed "Marianna IV" and in 1971 was scrapped at Eleusis, Greece. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P. Bonsor, vol.4, p.1688] There is a photo of this ship as the "Groote Beer" on p.1686 of North Atlantic Seaway, vol.4. - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 10 June 1998]
There is a good history of the 3 Victory ships including the Groote Beer and photos. CLICK HERE.
People who migrated on the "Groote Beer" can contact me and you can have your name here! I have heard from several people so far. I am also collecting Passenger Lists and other memorabilia.
Gordon Hale wrote: I sailed on the Groote Beer when she was the Costa Rica Victory. I sailed from San Francisco, California, U.S.A. on 10 Aug 1946 and arrived in
Yokohama, Japan on 1 Sep 1946. I don't know if this was an unusual long time
for this voyage but they did tell us they were still "dodging" mines layed by
the Japanese during WW2.
Cor Sterkenburg's father sailed to Dutch-Indies in the years 1950 so it was a dutch troop transport ship for a few years.
Trying to hold Indonesia as dutch colony, young dutch soldiers were sent to
‘dutch-indonesia’ in the years 1947 tot 1950. They helped the Indonesian people against the Japanese soldiers, however the
Indonesian people wanted freedom and later all the Dutchmen did leave Indonesia in
the years 1950 /1951.
My father sailed with it to Sabang and Sumatera nearby Lake Toba and Medan. Soldiers sent to Dutch-Indies first arrived on the island Sabang in northern Sumatra. The route was from Ijmuiden to the coast of France and Spain , Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, Indian Ocean. Cor's email is c.sterkenburg@versatel.nl
Cor sent some photos.
Chris Den Braasem wrote: My first experience on tge Groote Beer was my trip to Indonesie August 1948 the name of the ship was at time already the Groote Beer my second trip on this ship was June 3rd 1954 it is listed on your website as June 2nd 1954 destination Canada my name is on the passenger list.
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE.
Liz Feillafe's father (Theodorus Thoolen) came to Australia on the Groote Beer on 21 March 1951 . He cannot remember the exact date. I am trying to find
specific information about arrivals in 1951, such as arrival dates,
passenger lists etc. Is there any information that would assist?
Liz's email is liz_feillafe@phoneware.com.au
Ben Heeren wrote:
I left my hometown of Eindhoven on the 22nd of February 1951 and
travelled by bus to Rotterdam or Amsterdam (I can not remember which
one) together with a bus load of other potential emigrants. Perhaps
the photo below will indicate that part of the city shown, which belongs to
either Amsterdam or Rotterdam.
We boarded the Groote Beer on the same day which then took us to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on the 21st March 1951. Being, for the first time in my life exposed to so much sensation is unforgettable. Anyway after disembarkation I flew with Ansett ANA to Adelaide. From then on we resided there as well as in several SA country towns until after retirement in 1987 we shifted to the Gold Coast in Queensland, where we are still living up to this date.
During my earlier days in the 1950's, whilst being employed by the ANZ Bank, I was appointed to conduct several migrant shipboard agencies in order to discuss banking facilities in Australia as well as pay out landings money to the emigrant families. One of those agencies was also conducted on the "Groote Beer" whilst it was sailing from Holland to Australia. I would fly to Perth and board the ship on arrival there and then sail with it until Melbourne. from where I would fly back home to Adelaide.
Ben's email is ben@coastweb.net
My father Rudolf Anthony Joustra, his siblings
Maarten and Elja, his mother Elizabeth Wilhelmina Johanna (nee van Seggelen)
and his father Ids Joustra travelled on the Groote Beer 26/5/1951-27/6/1951
from Holland and ending up in Victoria, Australia. From Kyle Joustra, email kjoustra@bigpond.net.au
Kyle sent in some Menus and a Seasick bag from the Groote Beer.
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE.
My name is Piet Romijn and I was born in Lisse in May 1930. I left Holland on the Groote Beer on the 17th of August 1951 from the Java kade in Amsterdam . Most of the emigrants were young single men. For 453 of them the destination was New Zealand. We sailed via the Panama canal and Tahiti and arrived in Wellington on the 19th of September .
If I remember correctly this was the first sailing with emigrants to New Zealand and Australia that the Groote Beer did . Prior to this sailing had the boat been used as an hospital ship to transport the injured back to Holland during the war in Indonesia . The conditions on board during our sailing were pretty rough and that was the reason why in 1952 the boat was extensively upgraded.
Piet is organising a reunion in 2001 on the 50th Anniversary of that sailing with the migrants from that voyage to New Zealand. His email is peterromijn@paradise.net.nz
John Zaadstra wrote:
Three Groningers, Jan Scheepstra [on the photo the small joker] Kees Sijkerman and myself travelled on the Groote Beer which left Amsterdam on 17 August 1951 to make a "new" life in New zealand. We are still going strong and we had this 50 years re-union in 2001 but unfortunately there was not enough interest in doing another one in 2005.
John sent a photo of the reunion.
My name is Lynley Jerphanion and my father is Frans Willem Jerphanion. He came from Leidschendam. He emigranted to New Zealand aboard the Groote Beer in September 1951. I am hoping either you or someone reading your page can help me. I am trying to put something together for my father as it is 50 years since he arrived. Her email is payjer@paradise.net.nz
Ria van Dijk wrote: My father Nicolaas Jan Willem van Dijk, born in Ingen,Gelderland, landed in Halifax from Rotterdam on the "Groote Beer" June 25, 1952, with his parents "Adrianus Gerald & Maria Adriana van Dijk" ,along with two other siblings.
Ria's email is Anrvdm@aol.com
Ron Nieuwenhuis's parents and oldest brother emigrated from Holland to Canada in June 1952. Their names were Bareld and Tietje Nieuwenhuis. My brother's name is Ben (Bareld) Nieuwenhuis. They landed in Halifax on June 25, 1952 and made their way to Ontario Unfortunately both of my parents are dead. I am putting together a family tree and came across your site during my research. I am hoping other Nieuwenhuises will read this and possibly send information to help me.
Ron's email is rnieuwenhuis@netflash.net
Ron sent an Immigration Certificate. Click Here
My name is Ina Schellenbach (nee Kapteijn). I came to Canada in 1952. I was on the Groote Beer which left Rotterdam June 18, 1952 and arrived in Halifax, Canada on June 25, 1952. It was the first trip as the newly renovated ship I believe. My parents and 1 sister and 1 brother and I came to Canada. I was 12 years old at the time, my sister was 7 and my brother was 3 years old.I still remember the trip as if it was yesterday. My parents Jan and Marie Kapteijn have both passed away and my siblings are still alive and well in the London, Ontario, Canada area.
Jennifer Meyer was also possibly on this sailing.
Alida Hunt wrote: We were the veltman Family. There were 9 of us: 7 children and mom and dad. We came over on August 1952 so we must
have landed at Quebec, then off to Norwich, Canada.
Joop Kielman wrote: My wife's name is Sietje Lutgerdina.
We traveled on the Grote Beer to Canada on September 22, 1952 and landed in Halifax on October 1 or 2. We traveled together with a number of other just married couples. At first the men and women were seperated, but it did not take very long and we found a solution for that problem. It was a very stormy trip and there were a lot of seasick people on booard. I still feel sorry for the stewards who had to clean up a lot of mess on board ship. We ended up in beatuful British Columbia. We both still speak and write dutch fluently, but we became real Canuks very quickly.
Richard Post migrated in September 1952 from Parrega,
Friesland to the USA. Mother and father Eile and Tjitske Post and family of four spent 10
days on a somewhat stormy North Atlantic crossing aboard the Groote Beer
arriving on October 2, 1952 in Hoboken, New Jersey.
We settled in Sussex County, New Jersey. A Dutch-American community stills exists there, largely centered around the Christian Reformed Church. It was there that I married Edie (born Yttje) Oord whose family had come from the Joure in Friesland in 1955 aboard the Johan Van Olde Barnevelt.
Fries was natuurlijk mijn eerste taal. Nederlands had ik geleerd op school voor dat wij naar Amerika emigreerde. Of course English is now my first language.
Richard's email is postr@ohiou.edu. He now lives in southeast Ohio.
Henk Schuring wrote: Our family (parents and 5 children) left from Amsterdam on 27 November 1952 on the immigrant ship Groote Beer to South Africa arriving on 14 December 1952 at Capetown. From there we travelled by steamtrain to Pretoria and arrived there on 16 December.
About 40,000 dutch migrants went to South Africa but there are no records of them that I have found.
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE.
The grandparents of Bonnie Delyea migrated to Canada in the Groote Beer. Their children included Bonnie's mother. The Groote Beer left Rotterdam on 20 Feb. 1953 and arrived in Halifax March 1953. Bonnie's email is brandonmandy@sympatico.ca
Bonnie sent me the Passenger list of the Groote Beer of the journey and also a map of the journey travelled.
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE.
Jan Evers wrote: I was borm in Hensbroek N-H, and lived in in Alkmaar until 1972 but now live in Canada. My sister-in-law came to Canada with her whole family (de Goey) on the Groote Beer to Halifax on 19 March 1953.
My name is Simon Knuist. I was born in Alkmaar 1928, emigrated 1953 with the Groote Beer in February to Canada. Simon and his wife are shown on the Passenger list of 20 Feb 1953. Simon's email is ansikn@hotmail.com
Our family immigrated to Canada from Wassenaar Holland on April 8th 1953. My parents Cornelis (Kees) and Hermina (Mein) NELL, brothers Thys, Casey, Johan (Joe) and myself Hennie (Joan). We arrived in Halifax April 16th after a rough voyage. I remember one night my brother's crib sliding to and fro in the cabin with the movement of the ship, and had to be tied to one of the bunk beds. My mom and I were more or less confined to our cabin, as she was seasick the whole voyage and I had a broken leg with a cast. This had happened the day before we were to depart so needless to say my parents weren't happy about having to carry me about. My dad was kept busy looking after my other two brothers as they were wandering about the ship. One of the highlights of the voyage was the sighting of an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland. Joan Robb's email is robbj@cadvision.com
For more of Joan's excellent migration story Click here.
Soon after we sighted land, we were treated with the most spectacular display of Canadian Fall colours as we sailed up the St. Lawrence River. We stopped briefly in Quebec City but continued on for Montreal, arriving either September 30 or October 1. We travelled by train to Hamilton and settled in the Niagara Peninsula, initially in Fruitland.
Diane sent a newspaper cutting of the family saying Goodbye to family and friends.
We arrived in Halifax, and from there took a train for three days and stopped
in Ontario, to go to Aurora, where my father had a sister. We bought a farm there
close to Orangeville, and from there started our new life.
I remember that boat like a fairy tale, because I was only six years old. I
remember going out in the morning early, so we could watch the dolphins jumping in and out of the water as the people from the garbage disposal dumped all the waste of the kitchens into the ocean. The fish followed the boat just for the scraps.
Perhaps the Groote Beer was not the largest ship in the world, but it seemed huge to me. I used to get seasick every day, and everyone had to carry little paper bags just in case they would need to vomit. I remember that the women and men were separated, and different cabins.
I remember a large playroom, and a lot of other things, but most of it is
vague. I am a grandmother now, and I emigrated to Venezuela from
Canada 26 years ago. I live in a place called El Tigre, and have two grown
sons. My husband is Italian. I like to go on to the internet on a sort of nostalgic journey, because I'm separated from both my countries, Canada and Holland.
That is how I found my family tree The Rocus Verheul homepage. We can trace our family directly back to 1595. I have family living in Australia too, by the name of Verheul.
Eva sent a photo of the family.
After arriving in Halifax they
had the long train ride through Northern Quebec, Northern Ontario and
down through Chesley (Ontario, current pop. 2,000) where your Aunt Helen
and her family the Vanderloo's left the train to be met by their
relatives the Vandervoort's. Uncle Ted and Aunt Helen met on the Groote
Beer. The Klerks went on to the last stop which was Windsor (Ontario)
where Aunt Em and Uncle Janus were living (Harrow) and a farmer had a
job for your grandfather as well as a house to live in. The beautiful
scenery and great expanse of the country seen from the train really
impressed Dad and his family.
Cornelius Klerks and, his wife, Joan still live in Chesley, Ontario.
They have two children, Lisa, married with three boys, Kevin (me), married
with one daughter and three step-daughters. From Kevin Klerks, emailkklerks@webtv.net
I was told we had to take a long train ride to get to the boat in Rotterdam
from Germany.
Although my memories are vague, one is very clear. It remains the first
memory I have. My mother was telling me we were going to play a game but in
order to play the game we had to put on life jackets. I think I remember
this incident so well because my mother's eyes struck me. Even though she
was trying to speak to me in a happy voice her eyes showed great terror. The
storm outside was raging. The odd thing is that my memory is so very clear
about my mother's terrified eyes and in my memory she is speaking English
but of course that would have been impossible because we spoke German at
that time.
My mother had to remain with me because I was so sick but my sister roamed
the ship at will. During part of the storm my sister wandered out on to the
open deck and soon had to hang on to a pole for her life as the waves
crashed onto the deck. A sailor from the ship came out at great risk to
himself to bring my sister back inside. This seaman was then and remained
unknown to our family as we did not know what happened until after we had
left the ship. To the end of her life, my sister, Elisabeth donated what she
could to sailors' benevolent funds and volunteered at the Seaman's Mission
on Cherry Street by the shipping docks in Toronto as repayment to this kind,
brave sailor on the Groote Beer.
We arrived in Quebec City, I believe, in November of 1953. When we arrived
the dockworkers in Quebec likely on purpose according to my mother had our
only possessions slip and fall smashing what we had. Maybe because we were
German and in 1953 there was still ill feeling toward German people in
Canada, we don't know for sure. If that was the case it was ironic as my
mother's family were Jewish and from Poland. We got on the train in Quebec
City. It was very cold and we took the train to Toronto where my father met
us at the station. He had waited all day and met every train as he did not
know which one we would be on. He had a rented room and we stayed there for
months, all 4 of us! I eventually got better and in 6 years my mom and dad
worked hard and saved and we got a little house in Toronto.
I was sick for many months after we
arrived in Canada. My parents just thought I was a sickly child, there was
no money to see a doctor, we were very poor. I did not know until I was an
adult that I had had tuberculosis when I was a child. I realized that's what
had been the problem of my long time of sickliness.
My mom and dad and my sister have now passed away.
We
came from Uitwellingerga, Friesland. We boarded in Rotterdam and arrived 13
days later in Hoboken, NY. I've never puked so much in my young life. It made
me feel better when I noticed that even several of the crew members were
giving up their meals to the fishies.
We experienced very bad weather the entire
trip. Waves covered the ship from left to right freezing the water when it
landed aboard. The ship laid still for two days while we looked for survivors of
a plane that apparently had gone down. None were found. We made an emergency
stop in Halifax, Canada for a man that had fallen on the icy ship breaking his
back.
My parents had made arrangements to meet someone at a Pub in Hoboken to take
them grocery shopping. Feeding six healthy kids on a train for three days
could be costly. We ended up in Norwalk, a suburb of Los Angeles, California.
My parents both have passed now. The rest of us have moved around from Alaska
to Arizona, Missouri and back again. Five of us are still in California, and
one recently moved to Branson, Missouri.
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. I presently live
just 40 kms west of Calgary, Alberta and look out my kitchen window
at the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
Cornell also sent a Passenger list of the voyage and photos of the Groote Beer.
A 6 berth passenger cabin on the Groote Beer.
Dining Room on the Groote Beer.
A public Lounge room on the Groote Beer.
Passengers on the deck of the Groote Beer.
We disembarked at Quebec City and from there took a train to Truro, Nova Scotia where our sponsor (Mr. Hamm I think it was) was waiting for us. From there, it was one quick move after another from Truro, to the Annapolis Valley, NS, to Emsdale, NS, and back to the Annapolis Valley (Berwick) where we finally settled and I grew up. After about 15 years, my Mom and Dad went back for a visit for the first time, with several more visits since. I have never been back.
FOR a fragment of PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. Maria's email is meseau@hotmail.com
Dora's email is ldsmeets@sympatico.ca
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. According to him, between 1950 and 1960, the Dutch Government wanted to reduce Holland's population by 1 million. People could go to the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. As an incentive, their entire passage was paid for by the Dutch Government. A large shipping crate was part of the great deal and you filled it with all your possessions. Your shipboard meals and ticket price were paid for and once you reached Canada, each person got $25.00 to pay for meals, lodging and transportation to their new homes across the country.
Darren supplied a Passenger list of this voyage.
Note that the Tanke family name has been misspelled as Tancke in the Groote Beer passenger list.
Olav now lives in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada and his email is 2ulips@home.com
It was beginning December 1955, and the four of us, my brother and parents
took the train from Semarang to Surabaya where the Groote Beer was berthed. We boarded the next morning, and
left the dock in mid to late afternoon. 5 hours out of port, and my Dad is
deadly ill with seasickness and was in the bunk until we reached Rotterdam.
The route we took was similar coming to Australia except in reverse. Cutting through
the strait between Java and Summatra around India through the indian ocean into
the Red sea, to the Suez canal locks. While in the lock for many hours, all
kinds of Arabian merchants came with their wares along the boat. The goods we
bought was a wall tapestry of a stag, a dragon relief tea service which did not
last long, and I ended up with an inflatable dragon which once deflated could
not be inflated again.
After Port Said and the canal, we went into the Mediterranean sea. I dont
remember much about that, except that there was a seaboard funeral. Since a lot
of people left Java under duress, there was quite a cross-section of people, some
old and sickly, and some did not make it. One of the things I remembered was
that about 3-4pm, they used to throw out kassbolletjes (cheese balls) to the
kids I think because of the holidays.
We went
around Portugal and Spain into the Gulf of Biscay. It was around here that we
felt like the boat was a fishing bobber. I may be exaggerating, but I could
swear the distance between the trough and the crest of the wave was more than
15 meters high. That was the first and only time I was seasick. What a nasty
feeling.
We were
greeted by my uncle in Rotterdam when we docked on a morning in early January.
I know that the trip took about a month to reach Rotterdam, we arrived in Jan '56. We then lived in Schoorl (near Alkmaar) for a little while.
Then in June 1961, we emigrated to California, and again we went by way of the
Groote Beer. (See below at Dec 1961 for more).
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. Gerry's email is kaldenho@telusplanet.net
Frans sent in a passenger list.
I have included a picture of myself just before we left Holland, I am the tallest of the 2 boys in the picture.
I believe Gerry
Kaldenhoven, whose story is on the web-site, may have been on the same
sailing as we were. (However the name Wildeman does not appear on the above Passenger list: Hugo) Tony's email is tswildeman@shaw.ca
Tony sent in a photo of the family aboard the Groote Beer.
The man on the far right is my father, Hendrikus
who passed away in 1992. He is holding me, Antonius and my mother,
Catherina is standing to our right. My baby sister, Nora, is not in the
picture and the other man is my mother's uncle who came aboard to see us off
Peter sent a photo and trip map.
They landed in Quebec, Canada and
traveled by Greyhound bus to Hammond, Indiana in the United States. The bus
trip took about 40 hours. From there, they were greeted by members of the
First Reformed Church of Alsip, Illinois, which had sponsored his family's
journey. The family eventually settled in Alsip, where Oma Jacoba still
lives.
Rinke (senior) passed away in 1973, but Oma is still
going strong at age 88. She has 18 grandchildren and 15
great-grandchildren. They still have family in Friesland.
The family can be contacted by email through Lisa Kruis-Pavalon, mlpavalon@msn.com who is the daughter of Rinke (junior).
Although I have strong memories of Amsterdam and of our immediate
arrival in Montreal, curiously I draw almost a complete blank of the
voyage. My father tells me we were all seasick except for him (having
worked on a ocean going ship as a young man) and was often eating alone
in the dining room. I do remember a panic when on arriving in Quebec
City my little sister was nowhere to be found and my mother sick with
the thought she may have fallen overboard. My sister was thankfully
located.
Our family is now spread out across Canada save for my parents, Frank
and myself who still live in the Montreal area.
On the way across we
passed a disabled ocean liner that declined help from the Groote Beer, saw
icebergs in the distance and several fishing boats and freighters. We also
endured a violent storm that sent waves crashing across the windows of the
lounge, which was several decks above the main deck. Most passengers were
extremely seasick as a result. As we were going across on a tight budget,
we were bunked in dormitories in what had to have been the lowest deck that
passengers could be in.
We saw land a few days later and then sailed
through the Straight of Belle Isle with Labrador to the north and
Newfoundland to the south. It was our first view of Canada. All we could
see were pine trees, and it was bitterly cold. The next day we docked in
Quebec City to let off passengers and freight. The following morning,
September 30, we arrived at our final destination Montreal. We watched
them unload all the cargo during the day, and finally towards the end of
the day passengers were being allowed off the ship.
All passengers had to find their belongings in a huge freight hall and wait
by it, as Canada Customs and immigrations officials processed the new
immigrants. In a random check of a crate belonging to some other
immigrants, Customs officials found tulip bulbs hidden in a shoe. With that
find, all crates were opened and searched, delaying our exit from the
docks. However, we did make it in time to the railway station to catch the
train that took us to Calgary, arriving there three days later on Oct 3,
1956. There we were met by relatives who had made the trip a few years
earlier. That was the start of our new life in Canada.
Bill's email is fordnatic@canada.com I was six years old and remember that it was a horrible trip to cross
the Atlantic in the winter! The sea was ferocious with the Groote Beer
constantly climbing over huge waves with the bow pouncing back down
again with waves washing over the decks. The wind and rain were
relentless and I was surprised that no one was ever washed overboard. It
was like this almost every day of the voyage which seemed to last
forever. Mostly all on board were seasick and the dining room was nearly
empty for every meal. The lasting experience that I can still remember
to this day was the smell of consomme soup permeating through the
vessel. That smell would make you sick, especially when you are trying
to fight seasickness on a daily basis.
Finally the weather cleared and we berthed alongside in Halifax - the
start of our new journey. We never forgot our loving homeland of
Holland, our remaining relatives, and frequently returned as Nederland
always called us back like loving families at Christmas. Fred's email is fred.vandeventer@psterminals.com
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. My mother was very lonely in Missouri as we were the only Dutch
family in the entire city. The Western Michigan area has a substantial
concentration of Dutch, and when we moved there she was very happy. It
did not take her very long to find friends through Church.
Unfortunately she passed away in 1968, and was only able to enjoy the
U.S. for 11 years.
I was born in the Dutch East Indies in 1948, as my father was a soldier
in KNIL(Konikle Nederlandse Indies Leger)
In 1950 because of Indonesian independence, we moved back to the
Netherlands on the "Johan van Oldenbarnevelt". We lived in four different cities between 1950 and 1957: Woerden, Epe, Weert and Den Haag. My father was
very restless in the Netherlands so in 1957 all seven of us, mother Marie and father Henk, sister Alida, brother Kees, sister Elizabeth, myself, and younger brother Ted piled on the "Groote Beer". I remember our arrival and the
Statue of Libery, the TV antennas on the homes in Hoboken. Because
of a longshoremen's strike, the captain had to dock the ship without
benefit of tow boats and it took him all day. Jos email is jterhaar@remc8.k12.mi.us
I remember my entire family getting seasick
one stormy day. But for some reason, my younger
brother and I were had a field day. Everyone, my
parents, and three brothers and one sister couldn't
handle the storm.
Leaving Holland, I remember standing at the end of the
ship and looking out at the seagulls and realizing I
would never see childhood friends in Holland. And I
was right. I finally returned to Mill in 1997 but the
town wasn't the same.
The night we landed in New York City, we took
a bus ride to a train and from there we traveled
through the badlands of North Dakota and to
California. I'm not sure about the rest of those who came to the
United States when they were children, but I still
miss Holland and oftentimes regret leaving.
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. My Father and Mother are my heroes. These so called survivors of today could not hold a candle to what they and their generation went through in World War II.
The name Heijnen was changed to Heynen prior to leaving Rotterdam for the USA.
I (Rob) remember the trip pretty well even though it has been forty-four years. I was ten that March day we left. The English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean are not at their best
that time of year. I recall being sea sick most of the trip.
My youngest brother Peter was just a baby so he was on the floor in a crib. My Father tied it to the other bunks with his belt. Well, one night we had a pretty good storm and the belt broke and there was my Father with one hand on the bunk and one hand on the crib. Like I said, it was a pretty good storm. Before you knew it, he was sliding from one side to the other of our cabin. We all thought it was pretty funny. I learned a lot of new words that night.
As a ten year old kid I wasn't the bravest on board the Groote Beer. Well, one day we had a drill. Of course, I did not know it
was a drill. I thought the boat was going down and I was the only one without a life jacket. Needless to say, that was not my high point of the trip. For the rest of the trip, if I wasn't sick, I was on an adventure exploring the Groote Beer with my six-gun.
When we got to Halifax, my parents went on shore. They left my older brother Ben and me to look after the rest. My brother Martin decided to be a tight- rope walker and walked on the rail. Yeah, he fell, but thank God he fell onto the deck. During this trip, my Sister Leny was a
complete lady. Of course, she got sick just like the rest of us. I think my Mom did the best.
From Halifax, we went on to New York and the Statue of Liberty. That was quite a sight. Six weeks later, we ended up in Sacramento, California. Sometimes I wonder how life would have turned out had we stayed in Holland. Even though I'm an American citizen, I will always be Dutch in my heart, thanks to Peter Heynen Sr. & Lena J.Heynen.
Rob's email is rkheynen@sandpoint.net
We arrived in New York about two weeks after we left Amersfoort. I was sea sick the entire trip. I remember vividly the Statue of Liberty, the color of the water, the paper trash and the automats for food service. We immediately took a train to settle in Detroit, Michigan.
Before this adventure, my parents, who were born in Indonesia (former Dutch East Indies) emigrated from Indonesia following WW II. Dad was in the Dutch Army for 11 years and survived being a POW in Japan for three years. As it says on his tombstone, "Wat en lieven!" What a life!
Ray's email is spartan72@comcast.net
I was 5 years old at the time. My Mother, father, older brother and younger sister all reside in Canada. Our youngest sister was born in Canada so she has no memories of the voyage.
I remember my brother (seven years old at the time) and I running around the ship (like typical children) having a great time. Most adults were sea-sick in bed (our mother included). Dad clung to us everywhere we went on the ship (perhaps fearing that we may get washed overboard). I recall some very harsh weather and seeing at least 1 iceberg sometime during the voyage (got quite cold quickly).
Once we arrived in Montreal, I recall it was very hot weather and none of us were accustomed to this.
Ben's email is ben.steenhorst2@sympatico.ca
There was lots off seasickness when we crossed,my mother,1brother & sister were sick,me and my other brother were not. In the diningroom there was no one for the meals, our mother was very concerned because we were all over the ship.
NOTE: our dad had come over in 1956 to get started. He picked us up in Montreal, we stopped for lunch and that was the 1st time we had HOT DOGS not very good no one eat them.We came to our rented home in Ontario in about 3-4 hours. I still live in the same area.
NOTE: Dora Buren migrated on 4 May 1955 - see above for Dora's story.
My memories of the trip on the "Groote Beer" are pretty good. On the second day I was seasick a bit. The voyage on the ocean was rather pleasant and the weather was good and the sea was calm the first few days. Then as we came close to the American continent the sea became rougher and the waves were bigger. Then came the day that we passed New Foundland on our left. The trip on the St.Laurens river was very scenic and beautiful. On July 23 we got to Quebec city in the morning. I got off and walk in the city for a few hours.Then back to the boat and we went on to Montreal. On July 24 I took the train to London,Ontario.On Friday the 25th. I went looking for work in St.Thomas. On Sunday I met a
man from Hardewijk and on Monday he took me to his job where I started my first job in Canada.
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. We then took an airplane to Chicago where we lived for
eleven years. South Chicago proved to be a stronghold of
many Dutch Americans, including relatives of my Mom,
Geert (Jerry) and Tina Kap and Gezinus (George) and
Henny Schrikkema. They came from Groningen.
In 1970, I was twelve then, we returned to the Netherlands.
My mother passed away in 1999. My eldest brother and his
family now in Ontario, Canada. My father passed away in March 2001.
During my Chicago years I went to elementary school.
As a 12 year old I had to learn to speak Dutch and adjust
to Dutch life. I now live in Dordrecht. I am an accountant for an
international publishing firm. Peter's email is vossepoel44@zonnet.nl
Caroline also sent some postcards of the Groote Beer and some photos of the immigration.
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. I was born in Dutch East Indies where our family had lived since my grandfather. In 1956, my family left Indonesia and returned to the Netherlands. We first lived in Zutphen and then Nijmegen. In 1959 we emigrated to Canada on the Groote Beer. My sister Jeannine was born in Montreal in 1962.
Martin has a web page with photos of the Groote Beer.
Martin's email is martinvk@canada.com
I was eleven
years old at the time and the youngest in the family. We all shared a
six berth cabin. I got very ill towards the end of the voyage and was
almost not allowed to disembark in Sydney. Some stomach virus.
I was rooming with approximately eight other women most of whom became violently sea sick as we sailed into Hurricane Donna.
We spent much time on the upper deck, wrapped in blankets as the smell downstairs was unbearable.
My maiden name is Ute Diederich and I was born in Germany. I came to the U.S. alone and left my family in Germany, initially to study and work here but decided in 1963 after meeting my husband, a refugee from Hungary that I would stay. I am presently recreating my immigration experience and would like to know more about the ship, its passengers and where that information is stored today
Ute now lives in Nevada, USA. Her email is primategacs@sbcglobal.net
There were many others who were immigrating on the same ship from parts of Europe (mostly Romania and Hungary) to the US.
Michail sent in 2 photos of the Groote Beer.
FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. FOR PASSENGER LIST CLICK HERE. We landed in Melbourne the 12th November and got overnight accommodation in
Melbourne somewhere. Next day on the overland train to Balhanah and then to the Woodside camp.
Stayed there for a few days till we found work and were then moved to the
Glenelg hostel. In February 1963 we moved to Geoffrey Ave, Valley View, next to the van Roosmalens (see next entry) and 3 other Dutch families from the same sailing all lived in the same street.
In 1974 we moved back to Holland and lived in Midden Beemster and found work in
Alkmaar. Then 1975 we moved back to Australia and went to live in Windsor Gardens till I
retired in 2004 and moved to Seaford Rise. Jan Weber janweber@adam.com.au
For the PASSENGER LISTS of the Groote Beer that I am aware of CLICK HERE. TO GO TO MY OTHER PAGES, CLICK ONCE ON THESE LINKS.
Go to Hugo and Denise TravelPage. Return to Hugo's Dutch Page. Go to Hugo Schouten Accountant page. This page maintained by Hugo Schouten Accountant and Tax Agent.
I came to Canada April 8,1953 on the Groote Beer. Johan
August 1953 to Canada
John Willems sailed on the Groote Beer to Canada in 1953 in August. John's email is johnwillems1@ns.sympatico.ca
21 September 1953 to Canada
The Potma family, Mom, Dad, 6 boys and 1 girl (the oldest sister having come to Canada a year earlier) left from Heerenveen, for Canada. We left on the Groote Beer from Rotterdam on September 21 or 22, 1953 and had stops at Southampton and Le Havre. We experienced at least 2 or 3 days of storm in the mid Atlantic and everything was tied down and ropes strung along the upper deck to hold on to while trying to get to the bow or stern of the ship. Very few passengers came to the dining room during those days.
Diane Vermeer wrote: The family of Gerrit Vermeer left Opheusden, Holland
and travelled to Rotterdam and boarded the Groote Beer. Gerrit came
with his wife Wilhelmina (Meijering) his sons, Willem,Gerrit Jr., and
Johannes, his daughters Johanna, Wilhelmina and Cornelia. They landed in
Pier 21, Halifax on Sept. 30, 1953.,and continued by train to Mission,
B.C.There they were picked up by a Mrs. Klop who took them to Chilliwack,
B.C. where they all except the parents are all still alive and making
Chilliwack their homes.
20 October 1953 to Canada/USA
Geertje Verheul (now Geraldine Bruno) migrated on the Groote Beer from Rotterdam to Canada and we arrived on October 28th 1953. I was born on April 1st, 1946, in Amsterdam, Holland. My father was Rocus Verheul, my mother Marta van Tol, my brothers are called Rocus, Leonardus, Cornelius, and Dirk.
Yvonne Dunlop came to Canada in October 1953 and I remember some of the trip although not all of it as I was only 5 years old at the time. My family consisted of my father (deceased 1997) my mother (deceased 1956) my sister and myself. My sister is still living. I remember my mother and father were both
very, very sea sick on the voyage over and that they slept in separate
quarters. Women were with women and the men were with the men in dormitories.I remember running up and down the decks with my sister and throwing small woolen dolls off the end of the ship (not sure what that end is called). We sailed from Rotterdam to Halifax and then took the train west to Vancouver, British Columbia where we have resided ever since. I was wondering if there is a passenger list for that particular sailing and if so, where can I go to find it. Yvonne's email is ydunlop@telus.net
Eva Hooper (nee Haase) wrote: We sailed October 20, 1953 and arrive in America in the night of
October 30, 1953. We did sail into the inner harbor on the morning of October
31st. In America that is Halloween day and it was a rather delight to me to
see the children in NYC walking the streets in their fun costumes. My parents
were Friedrich and Charlotte Haase ( both have passed away) and my two
brothers were Ulrich and Michael. We traveled by bus and went to Arizona where our
American sponsors lived and we actually stayed in Mesa Arizona.
1953 (date unknown) to Canada
Dad (Cornelius Klerks, age at time 13) and his family came (to Canada)
in "1953". There were Cornelius Klerks, Ted Klerks, Helen Vanderloo, Agatha (Quakenboos) Klerks, Govert Klerks. Dad remembers things like seeing a flying fish, a surfaced sub passing by, and times when the weather was stormy and the waves washed over
the 3rd deck and they were locked in. with an edge placed around each
table to keep the dishes in place and at times heavy with fog where the
fog horn was blown every few minutes. They were able to walk around most
of the ship when the weather was good.
Heino Molls wrote: I was born in Germany in 1950. I came to Canada in about November of 1953 on the Groote Beer. I arrived with my mother
and my sister. My father had come ahead of us to find a place and get a job. I have some memories of great storms and rough seas. I recall a man bursting into our dormitory half shaven as he had
been thrown across the hallway from the rough seas.
February 1954 to USA
My family were passengers on that ship in
February 1954. My Mom, Dad (Roelof and Sjoeke Bangma )and six of us kids: Antje, Anneke,
Jan, Marten, Iepie Gonzalez (me), and Marieke . I was only 12 at the time.
20 April 1954 to Canada
My name is Peter Jansen. My family immigrated to Canada on the Groote Beer on Apr 20, 1954. We landed
in Quebec City. The last page of the Passenger List has some information my father wrote
regarding weather and icebergs. I remember both, especially the storm on
22 April. Peter's email is pjjansen@shaw.ca
10 May 1954 to Canada
My name is Cornell (Kees) Wynnobel. I was born in Leiden, Holland on August 12, 1946.My family including my Father
(Geil), Mother (Johanna) brother (Leendert) and myself (Cornellis)
immigrated to Canada on the Groote Beer on May 10th, 1954. We landed
in Quebec City for "processing" by Canadian Immigration and then
continued up the St. Lawrence River to Montreal. We then went on the
train to Winnipeg, Manitoba where my family still lives.
My name is Gauke (Gordon) Halbersma and currently live on Vancouver Island, BC. I am one of those who sailed on the Groote Beer as an immigrant. I was originally from Witmarsum, Friesland. I was only 2 years old at the time and so remember nothing about it except possibly a very hazy memory of some tall ship masts and cranes. Mom told me that I was constantly sea sick and yet she had a hard time keeping me under control as I was always curious and wanted to run all over the decks.
My sister Titje (Theresa) was only 2 months old at the time.
2 June 1954 to Canada
The parents of Maria Struyke-Laurin migrated to Canada from Holland on the s.s.Groote Beer on "Donderdag 2
Juni 1954" from Rotterdam to Quebec. The family came from Limburg. They landed at Montreal.
At present we live in Exeter, Ontario, Canada (along Lake Huron, north of
London, Ontario).
Chris Den Braasem wrote: My first experience on the Groote Beer was my trip to Indonesie August 1948 the name of the ship was at time already the Groote Beer my second trip on this ship was June 3rd 1954 it is listed on your website as June 2nd 1954 destination Canada my name is on the passenger list.
January 1955 to Canada
My name is Broer (Bruce) Burghgraef. I migrated from Workum, Friesland, from Rotterdam on the Groote Beer and landed at Halifax on February 6 1955, from there I moved on to Omemee Ontario Canada, and at present reside in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. My email address is byjanke@sympatico.ca
23 February 1955 to USA
We immigrated to the US leaving Rotterdam on the Groote Beer on 23 Feb 55 and landed in New York via Hallifax about 8 days later. My parents names are Cornelis and Truus (Trijnje) Van Helden and then my sister, Ineke and myself, Teunie. I remember the trip very well since I was nearly 7 yrs. old then. We settled in South Dakota and I now live in Spencer, Iowa. I have looked at some sites for passenger lists, but I have never been able to find our names or this particular sailing. Tony van Helden's email is helden@ncn.net
4 May 1955 to Canada
Hette Van Ravens migrated on 4 May 1955 in the Groote Beer and arived in Quebec on May 13th 1955. I was born in Schiedam and my wife Margaretha (nee Taal) is from Vlaardingen. Back in those days for a young couple to qualify to have your name put on a waiting list for an appartment in Holland, the couples age had to total 60. So we decided to set up house in Canada. We are still happily married and have been richly blessed with 3 children and 9 grand children. Now we are happily retired. Hette's email is edvanrav@stn.net
Jack van den Kieboom now lives in Owen
Sound, Ontario, Canada. He migrated in May 1955 and landed at Quebec City and travelled by
train to Montreal. He later met Marian there and married. His wife Marian's email is marianv@bmts.com
John van der Heide now lives in Tara,
Canada. He came from a village Oosterend in Friesland (it is about 11 kilometers north
west of Sneek) in May 1955. His parents are Peter and Betske (nee: Nauta) and migrated
with 5 children: Jan, Klaas, Hessel, Ietsje and Hendrik. They arrived at Quebec City and
from there took the train to Toronto. His email is j.rvanderheide@bmts.com
My name is Dora Smeets-Buren. I was born in Alkmaar. My Father (P.N.G.Buren) had a grocery store on the Laat 223. We migrated May 5th and arrived in Quebec May 12th 1955.
There were 9 children in the family who migrated. When we arrived in Canada we lived in Delaware Ontario, close to London. When we all got married and my Dad past away in 1969, my Mother moved to Byron, she past away in 1996. at the age of 94.
27 May 1955 to Canada
Jan du-Pree emigrated from Rotterdam on May 27 1955 on the Groote Beer with his parents Albertus and Nellie, brother Arie Pieter, sisters Nellie and Alberta. I turned 18 years old on May 29 on the boat. I remember we had a storm and stopped the boat for 2 days to let the storm clear, lots of people seasick but not our family, we had waiters all around us. We landed in Quebec on June 4 1955 and took a train to Windsor Ontario, I lived in Windsor 12 years before emigrating to San Francisco Bay Area Aug. 1967. I have visited Rotterdam twice since then, including the camp in Apelvaken- Sweden I was sent to in 1948 to recuperate from war starvation. Jan now lives in Concord,Ca and his email is GibsonGirl_1@email.msn.com
Luuk came over on the Groote Beer in May of 1955. I remember the voyage
well, sea sick for 9 out of 10 days. The only day I felt well was
a day so stormy no one was allowed on deck. The dining hall almost
empty, it is the only day I remember eating and keeping it down.
15 July 1955 to Canada and USA
Darren Tanke wrote: My father, Hank William Tanke, left Rotterdam, Holland on July 15, 1955 aboard the SS Groote Beer. He was accompanied by his mother, a sister and brother. They were moving to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to start a new life there. The ship first stopped in La Havre, France and arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 23, 1955.
Sep 1955 to Canada
Olav den Ouden sailed from Rotterdam landing at Halifax on October 10 1955. His father and mother Nico den Ouden and Thelca Helena Kleinherenbrink came with with 6 children and Mom pregnant with the 7th, Gerard, Emmie, Thea, Paul, Olav and Jose with Nico (Jr) born in 1956. A train ride to Quebec City and from there the train took us to Kingston, Ontario. My uncle, Rijk den Ouden picked us up took us to Picton, Ontario.
1955 (date unknown) to Canada
My parents and I emigrated to Canada in 1955 aboard the Groote Beer. I was
too young to remember the voyage. From Minke Stornel, email minke52@shaw.ca
25 Oct 1955 to Australia
The family Tillemans came to Australia in October 1955 on the Groote Beer and first stop was in Fremantle, November 1955 then on to Sydney where they travelled to the Upper Hunter Muswellbrook to settle. This information came from daughter Sharon Coates and her email is sharonatwooddws@optusnet.com.au
This is the same voyage on which I (Hugo) came out.
Jennifer Quick wrote: My father
emigrated from the Netherlands in 1955 and stopped in Perth where he has lived since.
He is Annechienus Reemeijer (called "Alec"). He is from Groningen, but also lived in Amsterdam, Hilversum and Utrecht. (He went back in 1960 for a short holiday - met my mother and got married in Wales - she's Welsh). Jennifer's email is antjenn@iinet.net.au
Arie Delhaas wrote: My family also migrated to Australia on the Groote Beer. We left Rotterdam on 25th October, 1955. We arrived in Sydney on 28th November. Our family consisted of my father and mother and nine children. I was 12 years of age when we left Holland. I remember the trip vividly. I now live in Kiama, New South Wales. My wife and I have been back to The Netherlands on numerous occasions.
Mandy Daalmeyer wrote:. My parents Johannes Daalmeyer and Cornelia Daalmeyer also came over from Holland on the Groote Beer, arriving in Fremantle about 25 Nov 1955, it has come to light that my mother was in a beauty contest on the ship. as it turns out, she won second prize! She
was greatly dissappointed that she never had any photos from the contest.
Peter Eerden wrote: I am an immigrant from Holland who travelled on the Groote Beer in 1955 with my family of ten. I was only five at the time and both my parents are now deceased.
3 December 1955 to Netherlands
Jim Adam wrote: Well I guess after
you disembarked from the ship (in Melbourne: November 26 1955) the Groote Beer probably travelled to Indonesia, because my
family boarded it in Surabaya in early December, maybe 3th or 4th.
13 Mar 1956 to Canada
Gerry Kaldenhoven sailed on the Groote Beer from Rotterdam on March 13 1956 by himself and arrived at
Halifax March 22 1956. He has a passenger list of the trip.
I was born in Bunnik (Utrecht) and have been living in Alberta, Canada
ever since I arrived here. Met my wife in 1958 and raised five children.
My name is Frans van den Bijllaardt and I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
I was 6 years old when I came to Canada on this boat with my Mother, Father and 4 year old brother.
We arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax and took the train to Toronto where we stayed with my aunt.
We then moved around a little bit and finally settled in Scarborough in 1960 (suburb of Toronto).
My name is Tony Wildeman and I live in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. I emigrated to Canada with my family on the Groote Beer in
March/April 1956, landing in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
4 Apr 1956 to Canada/USA
My name is Peter Maas and live in Fenton, Michigan, USA.
My family was from Tilburg, Noord Brabant and immigrated to the USA in 1956 on the Groote Beer. We left Rotterdam on April 4, 1956 and we arrived in New York Harbor on April 13, two days after most of the passengers disembarked at Halifax. My family included my father and mother and four children: Peter (11) Simon (10) Hans (7) and Huub (3). My mother was six months pregnant and she was so sea sick that she did not step outside the cabin for nearly six days. The weather was cold and windy and the seas were very rough. We have resided in Michigan ever since 1956 and all grew up in Detroit.
The family of Rinke and Jacoba Kruis migrated from Sneek, Friesland. They left the Netherlands with 5 boys departing from Rotterdam in April, 1956 on the Groote Beer.
The children were Richard (Rinke junior), John (Jan), Sam (Siebren), Joe (Jouke) and Pete (Pieter). The crossing over took about 10 days and they endured stormy conditions throughout the journey.
7 June 1956 to Canada
Our family, father Tiete Dijkstra,
mother, Wubbigje (Willy) nee ter Wal, and 6 children: Jan 17, Aldert 15,
Dirk 13, Liesbeth (me) 8, Frank 6 and Willy 1., left Rotterdam, from
Amsterdam, in June 1956 arriving in Quebec City, June 16.
12 July 1956 to Canada
My name is Jocob Commandeur, my wife Corrie and four children,Trudy,Jerry,Mia,and Lia,came
with me to Canada.We left on 12 July 1956 from the Wilhelmina cade at Rotterdam
with the "Groote Beer". When we arrived in Montreal on the 21 July it took three
days by train to Edmonton. We lived there for 24 years and 16 years in St.Albert Alberta. One son
was added to our family in 1961. In 1996 my wife Corrie and I moved to Parksville
on Vancouver Island.
21 Sep 1956 to Canada
Bill Boogaart and family came from Den Haag and left Rotterdam on September 21, 1956. The next day was spent floating
in the English Channel as a scheduled stop in Le Havre, France was
cancelled due to a dock workers strike. This was at the height of the Suez
Crisis, and the Channel was filled with British warships on their way to
Egypt. That evening we docked at Southampton, England to take on more
passengers and then left during the night for Canada.
Unknown date 1956 to Canada/USA
Margo van Eerten now lives in New
Washington, Ohio, USA. Her family migrated from Wolvega, Friesland in 1956 to Canada and
after disembarking from the Groote Beer at Quebec City travelled to the USA to live. There
were Father Jacob, Mother Grietje, Brothers Tiemen and Gerrit and Margo. Her email is margo@cybrtown.com
December 1956 to USA
My name is Fred van Deventer and was born in Zwijndrecht, Holland in
1950. My father (Matthijs - born in Leiden), mother (Elisabeth "Bep" -
born in Den Haag) and brother (Reinhard "Rein" - born in Vlissingen)
left Rotterdam on the "Groote Beer" in December, 1956 and landed at
Hoboken, New Jersey in January, 1957 via Halifax, Nova Scotia and
ultimately settling in Wilmington, Delaware, USA.
16 Jan 1957 to USA
Simon de Vente has provided a Passenger List.
Courtney van't Hoff Rose wrote: My mother came to America on the Holland America Line "Groote Beer". She
arrived in Hoboken from Rotterdam on about January 27, 1957.
Feb 1957 to USA
Jos TerHaar lives in the Grand Rapids (Michigan) area of USA and the entire TerHaar family
still lives there. We disembarked from Rotterdam on February 9, 1957, and arrived at Hoboken New Jersey on February 19, 1957, after stopping at Halifax, Nova Scotia. We traveled to Jefferson City Missouri, lived there for nine months, and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in November of 1957.
Johannes (John) C. Metscher wrote: I too sailed the Groote Beer back in 1957, we enterd New York harbor in Febuary of that
same year. I don't remember a thing except from what my parents have shared
with me, we were destine for the state of Colorado but lost our sponsers and
ended-up in the state of Michigan and then I moved to Ohio. John's email is john_metscher@ewi.org
Cornelia (Nell) Reid was
10 at the time we came over to the States on the Groote Beer in Feb. 1957. Her brother John was only 5 months old. Cornelia's email address is cornelia.reid@owens-ill.com
Sonja Bell too was a passenger that traveled from
Holland to United States in February of 1957. I was only 10 myself, and have often wondered about this journey and the one
that brought me from Holland. I am living
in Portland, Oregon
Les Mahler wrote: My family
traveled on the Groote beer from Netherlands to
United States in February 1957. I remember leaving Rotterdam late at night, looking
through the car window and seeing all the street
lights. When I lived in Holland, it was in a little
town called Mill.
5 Mar 1957 to USA
In a society in which we make heroes out of movie stars and athletes, we tend to forget what made this country we call the U S of A. A place where real Heroes came and created a way of life with hard work and a commitment to make life easier for their off-
springs.
Conny Koenig wrote:
I'm always looking for persons that were on board the Grote Beer from
Rotterdam to New York via Halifax on March 5, 1957.
Conny Koenig email is jcjkoenig@gobi.com
Ray Houthuysen came over from Holland in March of 1957. My parents, Rudolph P. Houthuysen and Selma Houthuysen, traveled with my 5 month old sister, my 5 year old sister, my 8 year old sister, and me, age 7. They were listed on the passenger list as Barbara Houthuysen, Tertia Houthuysen and Monica (misspelled as Merica). Monica was the baby. She died in 1972 of cancer. My parents are recently deceased, Dad in December 2001...two weeks before his 87th birthday. Mom passed away sudden last December 6th at age 80.
7 June 1957 to Canada
Ben Steenhorst and his family emigrated to Canada on the Groote Beer. We departed Rotterdam, Friday June 7 1957. We arrived Quebec City June 15 and stayed overnight. We then arrived in Montreal on June 17 and disembarked there.
Rudie van Santen wrote: The van Santen family emigrated to Canada on the Groote Beer.
We came from Nijmegen, Gelderland.
Departed in Rotterdam on Friday June 7,1957. Arrived in Quebec city on June 15,stayed overnight there. We did go on shore,that was the 1st time in Canada,I remember going up all the steps. Next day we landed in Montreal June17,1957. I was 14 years old at the time, there was my mother,2 younger brothers & 1 sister younger also, I was the older one.
6 August 1957 to Canada
John Hoekstra wrote: We sailed on the Groote Beer from Rotterdam
to Quebec City from August 8, 1957 to August 13, 1957. All our memorabilia was inadvertently destroyed several years ago. We are looking for the Passenger lists and other schematics of the ship.
16 Sept 1957 to Canada
We, the family IJzerman (now Yzerman), consisting of my dad and mom (who have passed away), myself Peter Yzerman at the age of 19 and my four younger sisters left on the Groote Beer from Rotterdam on 16 September 1957 and arrived in Quebec on the 25th of that month. We disembarked on the following day in Montreal to depart for Vancouver, B.C. I remember that the voyage was very rough, because the German cadet (tall) ship "Pamir" went down in the Atlantic with all hands during our crossing. We used to live in Velsen -Noord and I went to school in Beverwijk. These towns are 10 km north of Haarlem. I now live in Surrey, B.C. Canada. Peter's email is pete-nell@shaw.ca
1958 Date unknown from Indonesia to Netherlands
Mick wrote: My parents came to Holland in 1958. They migrated
from Indonesia where they'd been born and raised. The Groote Beer left Surabaya in 1958 and arrived in Holland in March of that year.
15 July 1958 to Canada
My name is Lambert Smeets.I'm from Limburg, born in Valkenburg. I migrated July 15 1958 on the Grote Beer to Montreal Canada. My brother Harry and wife Betty picked me up. I lived in Montreal till 1964 from there to Toronto till 1969 and then to London Ontario. In 1964 I married Dora Buren. We have three sons, a daughter and three grandsons. Lambert's email is ldsmeets@execulink.com
Everett Hendriksen wrote: When I came in July 1958 I came alone. I was born in Nunspeet,The Netherlands. There I lived the first 19 years of my life. From the time I was a child I said: "Ik ga naar Amerika". I started learning English when I was 12 and I never quit.
Oct 1958 to South Africa
Maart Vanderbent wrote: I am a dutch woman and looking for some information of the Groote Beer leaving in october 1958 with emigrants to South Africa. My husband was on
board then as a child with his parents.
11 Mar 1959 to USA
Peter Vossepoel was born in 1958 in Weesp, which is between Amsterdam and
Hilversum. In March 1959 we, my Mom and Dad and two older
brothers, migrated to the US aboard the Groote Beer. The
voyage lasted about nine days. We arrived in New York where
we stayed a few days at the home of my Mother's uncle,
Berend Smit.
Peter Vossepoel has sent some photos and memorabilia of the Groote Beer. Click here.
Caroline Vanneste writes: My parents and five older brothers and sisters immigrated to
Canada from Belgium on the Groote Beer, arriving in Halifax. I wasn't on the voyage myself - I was only born in 1967. My parents had five children in Belgium and four more after arriving in Canada! It was
quite the adventure for them to move here with five children when they
didn't know much English and they planned to become farmers with no
experience. Their courage was impressive, I think! Caroline's email is carovann@gmail.com
/
3 Apr 1959 to Canada
Theo van der Helm came to Canada on the Groote Beer in 1959 He left Rotterdam to Halifax on 3 April 1959. He was
traveling with his cousin, Jas van Staveren. There were 511 people on board and just about
everyone was sick due to the storms and rough seas. Jas van Staveren has
since passed away, while Theo (known here as Ted) is retired and living in
a small town in the Province of Saskatchewan.
Johanna Brown wrote: I came to Canada on the Groote Beer in 1959, arriving in Halifax on April 11.
27 Apr 1959 to Canada
Martin van Kuilenburg left Nederland on April 27 1959 and arrived in Montreal, Canada on May 6 1959. His family consisted of father James and mother Gerdina (née Hendriks) and him. Martin still lives in downtown Montreal.
May 1959 to Canada
Our family (Mom & Dad & six children) came in May - June 1959 arriving
in Montreal from Rotterdam. Our family came from Almelo before
immigrating, landing in Montreal, then boarding a train and going across
Canada and settling in Victoria BC (on the island). We moved in 1965 to
Trenton, Ontario, then I ended up in Kingston (to University) and
entered the accounting profession. From Dan Wyngarden - email danwyng@dwca.com
6 August 1959 to Quebec and Montreal
Eric Kieken sailed from Rotterdam on this voyage. With him were Johannes Kieken (Father), Gijsbertje (Mother), Looi, Roland, and Roger.
August 1959 to USA
From Yvonne Mulder (nee van Tilburg): After finishing High School in Holland I was granted a scholarship from the American Field
Service (AFS) and went to the United States for one year. I went from Rotterdam to New York by the ship SS Groote Beer
I stayed with a family, Bill and Toots Mossman and their two daughters Marlyn
and Carol, and went to Meadville Area Senior High school. My Class of
1960 chose me as their Vice-President. I returned to Holland, again with the SS Groote Beer, in August 1960. Yvonne has published 11 books. Yvonne's email is
yvonnemulder@poetryvonne.nl
Unknown date 1959 to USA
My name is Deanna de Vries, and I remembered migrating to the US in 1959. The ship departed from Rotterdam and ended up in New York. I remembered lady liberty and her glory of her radiant crown studded with sun rays.
My Mother Elisabeth Helene Glaser single handedly migrated with four kids. I was eleven at the time. My older brother and sister had their own passports. The brother's name is Anthony Dunki Jacobs and sister Renee Dunki Jacobs. My older brother and sister are from Indonesia. I was born in Batavia after the war, and since my mother married a Dutch man, we departed to Holland and stayed for six years or so.
Unknown date 1959 to Australia
From Anna Semple: My family of 6 - Mum dad and 4 children came to Australia from Holland in 1959 on the Groote Beer. Our family's name is Jansink, Dad - Frederick Henderick,
Mum - Anne-marie,
Sister - Gerda Wilhelmina,
Brother - Frits,
Me - Annemarie, and Brother - Frederick Henderick (Jnr)
February 1960 to Australia
Maryke de Rooy wrote: We also sailed to Australia in 1960. We left Rotterdam in February 1960 and arrived in Perth on the first of April , then sailed
on to Sydney where we settled. I came with my parents Wim and Cornelia
Beerman, my brothers Ton, Rien and Sjon and myself Marijke. We kids were all born in Haarlem. My mum and dad were born
in Amsterdam.
1 September 1960 to USA
From Ute Gacs. I left Germany at the end of August 1960 and drove with my mother to Rotterdam. We left Rotterdam on 1 Sep 1960 and arrived in Hoboken. N.J. on September 11 1960. Our voyage took approximately 11 days and about 600 of the passengers on the ship were exchange students, also students returning from Europe.
Michail Kalman wrote: My parents and I were on board travelling from Amsterdam to Hoboken, NJ in Sept/Oct 1961 or 1962. My memory is a little fuzzy on this
and my Dad just passed away and my mother has Alzheimer's.
June 1961
Jim Adam wrote: In June 1961, we emigrated to California, and we went by way of the Groote Beer. Again my dad was seasick, I gues he never learns, we could
have flown. Otherwise than that, the trip was uneventful. I remembered that there were a lot of college students on board. We docked in Hoboken, and took the Santa Fe train Hiawatha to
our new home in California.
April 1962 to New Zealand/Australia
Our family Baron Herman Andries van Raders, Baronesse Louise van Raders and four daughters Marion, Monica, Corine and Mariette van Raders arrived in Wellington on the Groote Beer from Rotterdam.
25 August 1962 to USA - Special Student Sailing.
Ward White was on this Student Sailing of the Groote Beer from Rotterdam to New York. Ward's email is sundancekid@justice.com
11 October 1962 to Australia
Jan Weber wrote: My wife boarded ship the 11th October in Amsterdam. My wife had to share a cabin with 4 other woman and I was allocated to a
dormitory out in the front of the ship to be shared with about 50 others.
We sailed from Rotterdam in October 1962 on the boat the Groote Beer.
There was my father Hans, mother Wilhelmina, brothers Hans, Hank, Robert,me John, and sisters Yolanda, Sophia, Everada and Marina. We arrived in Melbourne 12 Nov 1962. We came from Arnhem in Gelderland. My parents have now passed away but the rest of the family still live all over Australia. John van Roosmalen yossel@unite.com.au
Unknown date 1962 to Australia
Tony Doevedans wrote: My Opa, Jan Doevendans came to
Australia in 1962 with my Oma, Christina (maiden name Katz), and their
children Henk, Theunis, Hetty, Jannie, Albertus, Christiaan and Fredericus
on the Groote Beer. They had lived in Overijssel (i think in Vriezeveen and
Almelo). My Opa was I think from Sneek, but definitely somewhere in
Friesland.
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