Book Publishers Association of Alberta

The story of Dutch settlement in Alberta is told in the settler’s own words in a collection of letters that provide a first-person account of immigration, hardship, and the transformation from homestead to community.

Translated from Dutch to English, this collection of letters offers a unique, first-hand perspective on the early years of the Dutch community in southeastern Alberta.

A fascinating primary source, these letters provide accounts of the preparations to immigrate, the hardships of the pioneer years, and the transformation from the most basic homesteading conditions to progressive rural communities including Granum, Monarh, and Nobleford. These letters trace a period of rapid change, as new railroads, towns, churches, schools, and even telephone service was established.

Including maps, archival photographs, and an appendix listing all Dutch settlers in the region between 1903 and 1914, The First Dutch Settlement in Alberta is an invaluable and fascinating collection of primary source material that offers a wealth of information for genealogists and historians, and celebrates the pioneering spirit of Alberta’s early Dutch community.