The Dutch Settlement of Holland Marsh
Text from the plaque
The Holland Marsh consists of 2832 ha of reclaimed land in the Schomberg River Valley. Named after an early provincial official, this fertile area was drained between 1925 and 1930. John Snor, Canadian Representative of the Netherlands Emigration Foundation, visited the sparsely settled Marsh and proposed the relocation here of recent Dutch immigrants in Ontario. Assisted by grants from the Netherlands, Canada, and Ontario, fifteen Dutch families, many from Friesland and Groningen originally, settled on the Marsh in 1934 and formed the nucleus of the community of Ansnorveldt. Later, Dutch farmers settled throughout the Marsh. Through skilled farming practice and co-operative management, the Dutch were the first group successfully to develop the Marsh as one of Ontario's most important vegetable growing districts.
Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.
Find the place
The Region of York
The Township of King
In Ansnorveldt, at the public library on Bernhardt Road, a short distance east of the intersection of Dufferin Street and Bernhardt Road, 4.1 km north of Highway 9
Also recorded for this place: The Town of Newmarket
N 44 04.798 W 79 32.303
Recorded September 2013. Check current access before visiting.
More information
More views
Where it stands
Visitors' notes
March 28, 2014
Many other nationalities farmed the Holland Marsh also, not just the Dutch. I have 5 generations that have farmed in the Marsh. We are not Dutch. Great place to grow up.
March 3, 2014
In 1987 we visited Holland Marsh for the first time. My uncle Marinus van Dijken was my dad's brother who went to Canada in 1924 and was one of the settlers in the Marsh. We stayed at my cousin Peter van Dijkens house on Kingstreet for about three weeks and enjoyed it very much. We went to the market in Waterloo/Kitchener to sell fruit and potatoes. Do you know that a plaquette similar to the one in Holland Marsh is in Oude Pekela in Holland? The Horlings-family came from Oude Pekela and Harry Horlings, married my cousine Celina van Dijken. Kind regards Wim van Dijken, Emmen, Holland, 3rd. March 2014
October 3, 2011
I visited Holland Marsh (Ansnorveldt) in 1972 and 1977. My relatives moved from Holland to the Marsh about 1935. Amazing to see that much has stayed intact. Greetings from Holland. Richard
April 8, 2011
I was born and raised in Ansnorveldt in the Marsh, never thinking it was any different than anywhere else. It wasn't until I went to Holland as an adult that I realized the traditions that the Dutch brought to Canada and the Marsh. I truly feel that I was exposed to a significant part of history.
April 19, 2010
My grandparents immigrated here and I attended the Christian school in Holland Marsh. It was definitely a tight knit community. Great produce is grown here.
November 28, 2008
Only once in a lifetime do you have the opportunity to view such a place. The Holland Marsh is a farming area, a community, a family and so much more. It brings life, happiness and prosperity. It is a foundation that is built on swampy waters and that is what makes it special.
November 7, 2008
I've been through Holland Marsh many times. Very beautiful and well kept by all those hard working Dutch folk.