History of Sorts

The buzzword of the day seems to be “immigrants,” often carrying a negative connotation. But here’s the question: who exactly is an immigrant?

What follows is just a brief snapshot of history—a glimpse into my family’s background, at least on my mother’s side.

The picture at the beginning of this blog shows the marriage certificate of my maternal grandparents. They were married on December 28, 1915.

The groom was Durk Jager, and the bride was Tetje Hoekstra. They lived and tied the knot in a small village in Friesland, located in the northwest of the Netherlands. Their village, Harkema-Opeinde, was part of the broader municipality of Achtkarspelen.

It was a rural area with limited job opportunities. However, in Limburg, located in the southeast of the Netherlands, there was an abundance of work. This was largely due to the discovery of “black gold”—coal. In the early 20th century, between 1906 and 1926, coal mines were established in the southernmost province, creating not only jobs in the coal industry but also boosting employment across the wider economy.

The largest and final mine to open was the State Mine Maurits in Geleen, which began operations in 1926.

That marked the moment my grandparents had to pack up their belongings and uproot the family for a journey southward to Geleen. Although the Netherlands is a relatively small country, in the 1920s, such a move was akin to emigrating to the United States or Canada today.

I use the term “emigrating” deliberately because, in many ways, that’s what they were doing. The place they were heading to was entirely unfamiliar. Coming from Friesland, they spoke a different language, followed distinct cultural traditions, and practiced a different religion—Friesland was predominantly Protestant, while Limburg was largely Catholic. Even the landscape presented a stark contrast to what they had known.

As newcomers to Limburg, they faced the challenge of adapting to an entirely new way of life. My grandparents weren’t alone in making this transition. Due to the scarcity of work in Friesland, many Frisians took a chance and moved to the hilly southern region of Limburg, hoping for better opportunities.

I am also an immigrant, having left that same hilly region of southern Limburg for the Emerald Isle—Ireland. My journey was inspired by my wife, who had emigrated from Ireland to the Netherlands six years earlier.

In 1997, we decided to make the move to Limerick, Ireland.

Throughout history, countless people have immigrated, moving across borders and continents. When you look far enough into the past, you’ll find that most of us have immigrant roots.

So, the next time someone speaks disparagingly about immigrants, remember—they might unknowingly be talking about you or your family.