Drenthe Emigration and Immigration


 * Drenthse emigrants
 * The emigrant database on this site is compiled by the researcher Hoogeveense Eagle Everts. He searched all public records of the 34 (former) Drenthe municipality and adjacent municipalities in Overijssel and Groningen on 'emigrants' from the period 1840-1930. The collected data he checked the information in the archives of Holland, Grand Rapids, Orange City and Pella in America. The database is an excellent addition to the indexes on emigrants (passenger lists 1820-1880 and U.S. population registers 1850-1870) by Robert Swierenga. These records are available for inspection in the Drenthe Archive.


 * More information about emigration to America, see the factsheet on the website of the emigrants National Archives.
 * Arend Everts, the maker of the database, discovered years ago in the old cabinet of his grandparents more than 60 letters from emigrant relatives. That was the beginning of his research for the names of Drenthe's emigrants.


 * Emigrants from Drenthe on WeRelate, 1845-1872


 * Although Drenthe was the least populated province, it ranked fourth when comparing number of emigrants. In the nineteenth century, many people in Drenthe worked in the agricultural sector which means this province was struck particularly hard when the crops failed. Also, many people in Drenthe joined the Secession and were among the first to emigrate.


 * The Drents Archief has published lists of emigrants in an emigrant section of Drenlias. Select ‘English’ in the top right corner for the English version.


 * Most Drenthe emigrants settled in Holland and Grand Rapids in Michigan, and Orange City and Pella in Iowa.