Life in The Netherlands

Pieter De Jong, Sr. and his family farmed near the village of Arkel in the province of Zuid-Holland (South Holland). Arkel is located in the southeast portion of the Alblasserwaard region of the province of Zuid-Holland, near the northern tip of the province of North-Brabant, and the southwestern tip of Gelderland. The De Jong farm was in an area referred to as Drie Huelen or Drie Brugge (aka “the three bridges”), approximately one mile northeast of the village of Arkel. When the De Jong family lived there,  the three bridges marked the convergence of three separate canals. Several roads also intersect at this spot, including roads from Arkel to Achterdijk and Smalzide. This spot of land, with its bridges, was apparently quite a landmark in that area. Even today, some local folk recall its “three bridges”, while others refer to it as “ de heuvel” or hill. “De heuvel” is possibly a reference to the structure and elevation of the bridges, which left the bridge at the top of the arch higher than the surrounding ground.

Martinus De Jong and his family farmed near the village of Hoogblokland. Hoogblokland is approximately one mile west of Arkel. 

Farming in the region around Arkel and Hoogblokland consisted of a mixture of wheat and dairy farms. Wheat was a generic term referring to farmers who farmed both grain and livestock. Pieter Sr. and Martinus listed their occupation as land bouwman or land farmer, meaning they farmed grain and livestock. Most wheat farmers also had a few dairy cattle. In addition to having seven sons, Pieter De Jong Sr. employed a farm laborer, Willem Timmer. 

In the Netherlands emigration records, officials classified each departing family as well-to-do, middling, or needy. “Needy”, meant the family required some sort of public assistance. Only four percent of emigrants (1835-1880) from Zuid-Holland were considered well-to-do.  Pieter Sr. and Martinus were both classified as well-to-do. 

Generally, the Dutch economy was stagnant in the mid-nineteenth century. The industrial sector of the Dutch economy did not grow at a sufficient rate to absorb the growing rural population. Subdividing farms was no longer an option as farm sizes were already small. Farmer’s sons had to delay marriage or simply leave the rural communities.  A man had to be married in order to own a farm.

Most families were members of the Dutch Reformed Church or Nederland Hervormde Kirk. However, there were those in the Church who objected to doctrinal and organizational changes imposed by King Willem I in the 1830s and 1840s. This opposition struck a chord with some people, mostly in rural areas. These people became known as “Seceders”.

The Reformed Church was dominant in the Arkel area of the Netherlands(the Alblasserwaard region of Zuid-Holland and the northern regions of the North-Brabant province) and seceder congregations were common. However, none of the most famous seceders such as Scholte or Van Raalte originated in Zuid-Holland.

Both Pieter De Jong, Sr. and Martinus De Jong identified themselves as members of the Dutch Reformed Church (Nederland Hervormde Kerk) on their respective village registration sheets and on their emigration forms. However, there is strong evidence that the Martinus De Jong family attended a seceder church in the Noordeloos community, rather than attending the Reformed Church in Hoogblokland. It is possible he continued to perform any duties assigned to him by the Dutch Reformed Church, which may have accounted for his response.