The Vreeken Family

Welcome to the Vreeken Family Home Page. There are many Vreeken's around the world. If your name is Vreeken, you may be related to us. This page is about the branch of the family that descended from Cornelis Vreeken (XIx), who emigrated to the United States of America from The Netherlands in the early 20th century. Most of these descendents can be found in Southern California and Utah, but are also in many cities and towns throughout America.

Cornelis Johannes Vreeken 1871-1953
and Dirkje Kamerlling Vreeken 1875-1955

Cornelis and Dirkje were both born in Holland and had 13 children. While in Holland, the family lived on a houseboat for a time. They were:

Cornelis (Carl) - (born 1895, died 1966)

Martin Pieter - (born 1897, died 1986)

Margaretha Cornelia Johanna - (born 1899, died 1955)

Jacob - (born 1900, died 1905)

Dirk (Dick) and Piet (Peter), the twins - (born 1902, Peter died 1985, Dick died 1995)

Harm (Hiram) - (born 1904, died 1965)

Willem Jacobus - (born, 1906, died 1907)

Dirk Abram - (born, 1908, died 1978)

Cornelia Maria (Cora) - (born 1910, died 1993)

Johannes (Jan or John) - (born 1911, died 1998)

Jacob (Jimmy) - (born 1914)

Cornelis Johannes (Casey) - (born 1918, died 1966)

Willem Jacobus (Billy, "Buff") - (born 1920)

Holland 1919 - Standing in boat- left to right, Cornelis, Jim, Dirkje, holding Casey (2 months old). Outside boat- left to right, Dirk (Abe), Cora, John, Dick, Pete, and Hiram. Eight months later they sailed for America

You can see a picture of the ship they sailed to America, the Noordam, as well as their names on the shipping manifest as they arrived at Ellis Island, New York on December 10, 1919 at this website: http://www.ellisisland.org

This page was prepared by Craig Vreeken, and Peter was my grandfather. You may be descended from one of these children, or perhaps from the family of Cornelis' brother Abram, who also immigrated to the US shortly before Cornelis.

Cornelis' brother was named Dirk, and there is a street named after him in Amsterdam, Dirk Vreekenstraat. Find out why he is famous and read other letters from Vreekens around the world in the Mailbag.

VREEKEN FAMILY REUNION

Keep watching for 2008 reunion info.

L-R, standing, Martin, Martha, Dirkje Kamerling, Cornelis,
Peter, Lillian, Cora. Seated, Bob, May, Donald

The Vreeken Story

In 1968, Martin Vreeken wrote the story of The Vreeken family's immigration to America. Click here to read his fascinating story.

The Vreeken Coat of Arms sat in a library in New York for hundreds of years until discovered by Martin in 1960. Dick Vreeken from Holland has recreated it on his computer if full color. See it here.

Click to see what the Dutch are saying about us, what the name "Vreeken" means and where it came from, and what Napoleon had to do with our family name. Also information about our relatives and ancestors back to the year 1500.

Written in Dutch on the back of this photo, apparently by Cornelis or Dirkje, it says "1936 - Here is another one, our youngest daughter is giving us a beautiful bouquet of flowers. The other one is Abram and Piet pierces his head through the palm trees."

Translation courtesy of Johannes Vreeken
Emmeloord, Holland

Mailbag

Vreekens from all over have visited this page and took time to drop us a line. Thank you for writing. Some may be your close relatives!

Here's a sampling of what they had to say.

If you would like a message posted or just want to say hi, email me at cvreeken@surewest.net

This page was created by Craig Vreeken of Sacramento, California, son of Bob, grandson of Pete, and great-grandson of Cornelis, born January 28, 1957.

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