On Wednesday 18 March 2026, the RIAS will present the exhibition “From Polders to Prairies: The Long History of Dutch Migration to Canada” at the Fenix Museum of Migration in Rotterdam.
The opening will be hosted jointly by the Canadian Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Hugh Adsett, the Fenix Museum of Migration, the RIAS, and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (Halifax).
Sponsored by the Canadian Embassy and prepared by the RIAS with the support of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, this exhibition brings Dutch and Canadian collections and expertise together into a shared public story across the Atlantic—one that links the Dutch countryside to the wide expanses of Western Canada.
The exhibition traces centuries of Dutch migration to Canada through 25 trilingual panels (Dutch, English, and French), drawing on archival materials from the RIAS collections, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and the Nationaal Archief. It is a concrete example of an international partnership that bridges local roots and global reach.
About the exhibition
Dutch migration to Canada spans multiple centuries and is shaped by changing conditions on both sides of the Atlantic. The exhibition situates Dutch settlement within Canada’s wider history and explores why people left the Netherlands, how migration was organized, and what it meant to start over after arrival—from the journey itself to work, language, community life, and long-lasting bonds.
Following the opening night at Fenix in Rotterdam, the exhibition will be on display at the Canadian Embassy.
Online access
The exhibition will also be accessible online via polderstoprairies.com after the inaugural event.
For questions, please contact info@roosevelt.nl.
