The Dutch American Hall of Fame

The following individuals and organizations have been recipients of the Dutch American Heritage Award. For more information about the honorees, please click on the name of the recipient.

2012 - Peter Laanen, Entrepreneur and International Trade Director
 
2010 - Carl Nolet Jr., Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
 
2009 - Jeroen Krabbe, Actor, Director, Artist
 
2008 - Hendrika (Henny) Neys, Philanthropist
 
2007 - Johannes van Tilburg, FAIA, President, Van Tilburg, Barnvard and Soderbergh Architects, AIA
 
2006 - J.C. Huizenga, Manufacturer, Educational Reformer, Entrepreneur
 
2005 - NESSO, the Netherlands Social Services Organization
 
2005 - William J. Heetderks, MD, PhD, Associate Director National Institutes of Health
 
2004 - Ben Apon, Industrialist
 
2004 - Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, War Hero & Author
 
2003 - Bram Benjamins, Retired industrialist
 
2003 - Robert G. van Schoonenberg, Executive VP, Avery Dennison Corporation
 
2002 - Ann M. Veneman, United States Department of Agriculture
 
2002 - Dr. Steef van Adelsberg, Pediatrician
 
2001 - Paul Verhoeven, Film Director
 
2001 - Gene Van Dyke, Founder, Owner & President Vanco Energy Company
 
2000 - Bill Jones, California Secretary of State
 
1999 - Dr. Willem Kolff, Professor, Inventor
 
1998 - H. Wayne Huizenga, Chairman, Republic Industries
 
1997 - John W. Amerman, Chairman Board of Directors Mattel, Inc.
 
1996 - Joan van Ark, Actress, Director
 
1995 - Walter Cronkite, Radio and Television Journalist
 
1994 - Maarten Schmidt, Professor of Astronomy at Cal Tech
 
1993 - Rockwell Schnabel, Ambassador of the United States
 
1992 - Joyce Kennard, California Supreme Court Justice
 

Dutch American Heritage Gala 2007

On October 14th 2007 the Southern California Chapter of the Netherland-America Foundation (NAF-SCC), formerly the Dutch American Heritage Foundation, held its Dinner and Ball to celebrate the 16th annual Dutch American Heritage Day at the splendid California Club in Los Angeles. The event, which was chaired by Dick van Hoepen, first President of the NAF-SCC, was attended by 224 people.

The event honored Johannes Van Tilburg by presenting him with the 2007 Dutch American Heritage Award and inducting him into the Dutch American Hall of Fame. Mr. Van Tilburg is Founder and President of "Van Tilburg, Banvard and Soderbergh, AIA." Among other things he established the "Johannes Van Tilburg Lecture for the Dutch Studies Program at UCLA" and his firm designed, pro bono, the first AIDS Hospice in Los Angeles. Mr. Van Tilburg is the 21st honoree to be inducted into the Dutch American Hall of Fame.

The other highlight was a series of spectacular piano and singing performances by three past winners of the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards, two of whom are high school students. This is a program supported by the Fraternity of Friends of which Mr. van Tilburg is a Vice President. http://www.musiccenter.org/education/spot_index.html.

Attendees included Madelien de Planque, Consul General of the Netherlands, Los Angeles and Honorary Chairperson of the NAF-SCC.

In sum, the evening was one of great fellowship, food, wine and very special music, including the dance music by the Jamey Tate quartet.

To see photos from the Gala click here.
 

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Dutch American Heritage Gala 2006

The Fifteenth Annual Gala to celebrate Dutch American Heritage Day was held on Saturday November 18, 2006 in the elegant grand ballroom of the California Club in downtown Los Angeles. J.C. Huizenga, entrepreneur, manufacturer and educational reformer from Grand Rapids, Michigan was honored and inducted into the Dutch American Hall of Fame. President Bush extended his congratulations to Mr. Huizenga and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa honored Mr. Huizenga with a certificate of recognition on behalf of the City of Los Angeles. Noted Dutch pianist Michiel Borstlap supported by Darek Oleszkiewics and Peter Erskine provided entertainment. Melina Gerges, soprano, entertained us with several arias.
Some 170 people, including a large contingent from Michigan, attended the event. Thanks to donations and the silent auction, the event raised over $24,000 to benefit the NESSO and the Dutch studies program at UCLA.

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Dutch American Heritage Gala 2005

The Fourteenth Annual Gala to celebrate Dutch American Heritage Day was held on Wednesday November 16, 2005 in the elegant grand ballroom of the California Club in downtown Los Angeles. William J. Heetderks, MD, PhD, of the National Institutes of Health, and the NESSO, the Netherlands Social Services Organization, were inducted into the Dutch American Hall of Fame.&nsbp; President Bush issued a special proclamation honoring Dr. Heetderks. The Pieter Meijers quintet again provided wonderful music to listen and dance to. Melina Gerges, soprano, entertained us with several arias.

Attendance was down this year but, thanks to donations and the silent auction, the event still raised over $8,000 to benefit the NESSO, the Hans Hienkens Fund and the Dutch studies program at UCLA.

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Dutch American Heritage Gala 2004

The Thirteenth Annual Gala to celebrate Dutch American Heritage Day was held on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 in the grand ballroom of the California Club in downtown Los Angeles. Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, World War II hero and author, and Ben Apon, owner and CEO of Chromapon Scientific, Inc. were inducted into the Dutch American Hall of Fame.

The event raised over $ 13,000 to benefit Dutch American charities, cultural events and Dutch history studies at UCLA.

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