Dutch Canadians facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dutch Canadians
Nederlandse Canadezen
Canadiens-néerlandais

Dutch Canadians as percent of population by province/territory
Total population
1,111,655 (2016 Census)
Regions with significant populations
Alberta, British Columbia, Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Western Canada
Languages
Canadian English, Canadian French, Dutch, Frisian, Limburgish
Religion
Protestantism, Roman Catholicism
Related ethnic groups
Dutch people, Dutch Americans

Dutch Canadians are people living in Canada who have full or partial Dutch family roots. This means their ancestors came from the Netherlands, a country in Europe. In 2016, over 1.1 million Canadians said they had Dutch heritage. This makes them one of Canada's largest ethnic groups.

History of Dutch Canadians

The first Dutch people to arrive in Canada were Dutch Americans. They came as United Empire Loyalists after the American Revolution. The biggest wave of Dutch immigrants came in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many of them helped settle the western parts of Canada.

During this time, many also moved to big cities like Toronto. This movement slowed down during the First World War. It picked up again in the 1920s, but stopped during the Great Depression and Second World War.

After World War II

After World War II, many Dutch immigrants came to Canada. This included "war brides" who married Canadian soldiers. Canada had helped shelter Crown Princess Juliana and her family during the war. Because of these strong ties, Canada became a popular place for Dutch people to move.

The Canadian government even encouraged skilled workers to come. This post-war group mainly settled in cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver. As the Netherlands recovered economically, fewer people moved to Canada.

Dutch-Canadian Communities

Dutch Canadians are one of Canada's largest minority groups. They have often blended into Canadian society quickly. However, many Dutch Canadians share strong cultural and religious backgrounds. This has led to close-knit communities.

One important group is the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Its churches are mostly found in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. Some schools and organizations are also linked to this Dutch Reformed faith. These include the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto and Redeemer University College in Ancaster.

A fun "in-joke" among Dutch Canadians is called "Dutch bingo." It's said that they can find a connection to almost any other Dutch Canadian. They do this by asking about their last name, hometown, church, or college.

Where Dutch Canadians Live

This information comes from Statistics Canada, 2021.

Provinces and Territories

Province / Territory	Percent Dutch	Total Dutch
Alberta	4.2%	174,625
British Columbia	3.9%	189,985
Manitoba	3.3%	43,390
New Brunswick	1.8%	13,310
Newfoundland and Labrador	0.4%	1,830
Northwest Territories	2.3%	940
Nova Scotia	2.9%	27,375
Nunavut	0.5%	185
Ontario	3.4%	478,860
Prince Edward Island	3.0%	4,465
Quebec	0.3%	22,385
Saskatchewan	2.7%	29,410
Yukon	4.6%	1,825
Canada — Total	2.7%	988,585

Notable Dutch Canadians

Many people with Dutch heritage have become well-known in Canada.

Academia

• Parzival Copes, an economist
• Sidney van den Bergh, an astronomer
• Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, a physicist

Arts and Entertainment

Business

• William Cornelius Van Horne, former president of the CPR

Politics and Civil Service

Sports

See also

In Spanish: Inmigración neerlandesa en Canadá para niños

• Canada–Netherlands relations
• Dutch Americans
• European Canadians