The A. C. Van Raalte Institute is an internationally recognized leader in historical research. We focus on Dutch American history of the 19th and 20th centuries; the history of Holland, Michigan, and its subcultures; and the history of Hope College.
The Van Raalte Institute of Hope College honors the memory and vision of the Reverend
Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte, the founder of Holland, Michigan, by engaging in and promoting
the study of his life and legacy, exploring the history of the West Michigan community,
and publishing, through the Van Raalte Press, scholarly work on Dutch-American relations
and Dutch immigration and heritage in North America and around the globe.
The Van Raalte Institute and Hope College have honored Dr. Jacob and Leona Nyenhuis
for their many decades of scholarship and service with the addition of their names
to the Theil Research Center, home of the Van Raalte Institute since 2004.
Research Center Renamed to Honor Jacob and Leona Nyenhuis
Theil-Nyenhuis Research Center9 East 10th StreetHolland, MI 49423
workP. 616.395.7678
vanraalte@hope.edu
Hope by the Numbers
- 1847The year Van Raalte settled
The Dutch Calvinists who settled on the shores of Lake Michigan at the mouth of Black Lake had seceded in 1834 from the Netherlands Hervormde Kerk; they had a clear sense of destiny, kept careful records of life in the colony and preserved key documents.
Find books about the history of Holland - 1Graduate
Albertus C. Van Raalte was the only university graduate in the Holland colony. He recorded the minutes of key organizations, helped start two Dutch-language newspapers and kept meticulous ledgers of his land, real estate mortgages, taxes and business investments.
Study the life and work of Van Raalte - 5Attempts to dig the Holland Harbor
Van Raalte led five attempts to dig a harbor to grow the economy of the colony. Each attempt was defeated by siltation, until federal funds finally provided a way for the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the task.
Read Swierenga’s “Holland, Michigan” - 50+Publications
Since 1994 over 50 books and lectures have been published by or are forthcoming from the fellows and associates of the Van Raalte Institute.
Browse our publications and lectures