Dutch Diaspora Countries 2024

Dutch Diaspora is the movement of Dutch out of the Netherlands. Although the Dutch left the Netherlands in small and ongoing ways throughout history, there were three significant periods of Diaspora:

13th and 14th centuries - Dutch people left when a series of floods in the low country drove many people away.

16th and 17th centuries - Religious and political oppression drove many people to leave the low country.

19th and 20th centuries - War and economic difficulty were primary drivers that caused Dutch people to leave their homeland.

This article will discuss the most recent wave of Dutch diaspora, in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Which Countries Are Part of the Dutch Diaspora in the 20th Century?

During the Diaspora in the 20th century, Dutch immigrated to countries like New Zealand, Australia, United States of America and Canada.

Emigration Reasons

During the wave of Dutch Diaspora in the 19th and 20th centuries, people emigrated to New Zealand, Australia, United States of America and Canada seeking economic opportunities. Problems like lack of land for farmers, ongoing poverty and few economic opportunities drove the Dutch to leave the Netherlands. This most recent wave of Diaspora has also included religious motivation.

Dutch Emigration to United States

Over 20,000,000 Americans can trace their history to Dutch emigration and the low countries. In fact, the island of Manhattan in New York was a Dutch colony. This spread the influence of Dutch culture along North America's east coast. Because many Dutch came through when the first Europeans came to North America in the 17th century, Dutch culture was already established in the area when new waves of immigrants arrived during the 20th century. Many people in the United States spoke Dutch at home during this time.

During the wave of emigration to the United States in the mid- to late-19th century, Dutch people who came to the United States settled in the Midwest and on the West Coast. Following the end of World War II, people also came to the United States to flee the war-torn countries in Europe.