Bram Donkers

Foggy Breukelen Bridge, by drone photographer Arthur Bungener

Did you know “OK” originated from a U.S. president — who spoke Dutch? 🇳🇱🇺🇸 Meet Martin Van Buren, 8th president of the U.S., born in Kinderhook, NY to a Dutch-speaking family. He was the only U.S. president who spoke Dutch as his first language. And he helped make “OK” famous…

Everyone knows that Bruce Springsteen was born in the U.S.A. and most people may know that the Boss is a New Jersey icon. But Springsteen is a very Dutch name and recently we already suggested about the connections to Brooklyn and The Netherlands from Bruce’s family tree. 1/4

In 1952, 300 years of Flatbush was celebrated at Erasmus Hall High School. See the big celebrations. Midwout was one of the original Dutch towns of Brooklyn. It was received a patent of township by 1652. It would also be known as Vlacke Bos or Flackebos ("wooded plain") 1/3

Repost Nethervoice. We enjoyed this episode of Paul Strikwerda’s stories on Dutch-American connections, about the two Van Leeuwen brothers who are so successful with their ice cream. @vanleeuwen 1/4

Once, New Utrecht had a Main Street. Now, that’s gone. The original center of New Utrecht Town in Brooklyn was located around the present-day intersection of 86th Street and 18th Avenue in the Bensonhurst neighborhood. #newutrecht 1/3

When you realize Brooklyn was named after…

Dutch-American Friendship Day is observed on April 19 annually. The purpose of this day is to commemorate the start of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Netherlands. The Netherlands was the first country to recognize the independence of the USA. 1/2

Beautiful that borough president Antonio Reynoso and his family are shining in front of the official Eendracht Maakt Macht seal, still in original Dutch. This week on stage, delivering the State of the Borough @BKBPReynoso #BKSOTB25 Unity Makes Strength!

The Vanderpoels were a Dutch-descended family. The original immigrant Wynand, son of Gerrit came from the city of Gorinchem, in the heart of Holland. In the 19th century, the Vanderpoel family was prominent in New York State, including Brooklyn. 1/2

We are living in difficult times, regarding Dutch-American relations. Let’s treasure common history and maintain that bridge. #eendraghtmaecktmaght #unitymakesstrength #brooklynhistory #est1646 #breukelenstory #breukelenbrooklyn #dutchbrooklyn #breukelen #breukelenbridge

Reel by @HannahKliger @cbsnews @CBSNewYork about the great perspectives for the @LottHouse, Dutch heritage in southern Brooklyn

New campaign alert #MakeBrooklynBreukelenAgain

It is probably the right time for a Make Brooklyn Breukelen Again initiative, seizing a critical moment in which historical heritage and identity are becoming central to political and societal discourse. #MakeBrooklynBreukelenAgain @BKBPReynoso @apreinders @NLinNY 1/4

Not only good news about the world-famous Dutch concept of cargo bikes. One specific brand had to launch a recall operation because of major safety issues. And also Dutch expats in Brooklyn are struggling with the situation. Today’s news in the @ADnl newspaper 📰 #bakfiets

Was Brooklyn named after Dutch colonists from Breukelen? In our daily updates we try to explain that the historical reality is more complex than that. But sometimes it’s close. And bizarre. For example: the Van Slyke story. #vanslyke #breukelen #history 1/5

New official headwear for the executive board members of the Brooklyn Bridge Breukelen Foundation.

Prominent new name on the Kerkbrink in downtown Breukelen: Brooklyn Design, a lettering and printing shop. We noticed several other local Breukelen brands with Brooklyn in their name… 1/3 Which Breukelen companies or organizations do we miss?

Let the year begin! #ny400 #nyc400 @NYC400th @NYCMayor @NYCMayorsOffice @NLinNY @BKBPReynoso #2025newyear

Inspired by @gerthuskens we did this post about Goethals today. Fascinating portrait of a Brooklyn-born general. He built the Panama Canal and was honored with the Goethals Bridge. instagram.com/p/DEM0DnaN6u6/…