April 5, 2025
On Saturday April 5th, the Holland Society held its 139th annual meeting at the Lotos Club Library.
Immediately after the Annual Meeting, the Holland Society welcomed Members, Friends, Fellows and guests to their Spring Reception held at the Lotus Club Grill.
A sold-out event, the Grill Room was buzzing with guests sharing family stories and their excitement about the Society’s new permanent home on the Upper West Side, and planned activities, partnerships and programs including a 2026 trip to the Netherlands, another great Holland Society tradition.
The seafood display with oysters was again the center of attention. Did you know that Pearl Street in Lower Manhattan got its name from the Dutch settlers who called it “Paerlstraat” (or Parelstraat), which translates to “Pearl Street”. The name was likely inspired by the abundance of oyster shells, or “shell middens”, found along the East River waterfront. The Lenape, the indigenous people of the area, also ate oysters, and the piles of shells they left behind are a testament to their reliance on the resource and a reminder of the city’s connection to oysters.
Pictures from the Holland Society’s 139th Annual Meeting & Spring Reception. Photography by Joanna Garcia.