Van Hollen Statement On The Quadricentennial Of American And Dutch Relations

Statement

Van Hollen Statement On The Quadricentennial Of American And Dutch Relations

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman BERMAN and Ranking Member ROS-LEHTINEN for their efforts in bringing this resolution to the floor today. Also I want to thank the committee staffs, in particular Rick Kessler and Amanda Sloat for their efforts.

I am very proud to be a Co-chair of the Congressional Dutch Caucus with my colleague PETE HOEKSTRA of Michigan with whom I have worked on a bipartisan basis to further strengthen relations between the U.S. and the Netherlands. I am also very pleased to join with him in introducing this resolution.

This year we celebrate the quadricentennial of American and Dutch relations. Four hundred years ago, the Dutch ship, the Half Moon, sailed up the Hudson River. In 1776, when Dutch cannons at Fort Orange on the Caribbean island of Saint Eustace saluted visiting American warships, The Netherlands became the first nation to recognize the newly born United States of America. Over the last 400 years, our people have built an enduring and productive cultural, commercial, and strategic partnership.

The fruits of that partnership and the contributions made by Dutch Americans to the culture, prosperity, and security of this country are well known.

The Dutch helped settle and found New Amsterdam, Brooklyn, and Harlem. Their descendents rose to be Presidents of the United States and to build the great fortunes that helped America attain its stature as the most prosperous and powerful Nation this world has ever known. And it is widely recognized that Thomas Jefferson used the Dutch Declaration of Independence of 1689 as a guide when writing the American Declaration of Independence.

On issues of security, Dutch and American troops have stood ``shoulder to shoulder'' in combat and have partnered in global peacekeeping and stabilization efforts in Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The close cooperation and free and open communication resulting from our ties have strengthened our ability to confront with confidence the major challenges that the world faces today. Not only the stubborn, enduring challenges such as the unresolved crisis in Darfur or the efforts to establish a lasting peace in the Middle East, but also the warming of the planet and the ongoing threat of international terrorism. In the days and years ahead, the close historical bonds between the Dutch and Americans will be called upon to address these and other global challenges. Our continued cooperation will be key to our success.

The strength of our alliance and the endurance of our friendship have made both our countries stronger and the world more secure. I stand proudly today to honor and celebrate that friendship on the occasion of its 400th anniversary.

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