Discovering the Dutch in Orange City.

Why would anyone want to name a city after the color orange?

Apparently, Dutch people who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1880s decided to honor the country they left by naming their new home "Orange City," after the royal line of the Dutch monarchy, which is the (….wait for it…) House of Orange.

As noted on the welcome sign at the outskirts of town, Orange City is proud of its  Dutch heritage.

At the center of town is a park with six model windmills and a large garden that is filled with tulips in the spring.

The chamber of commerce is located in a larger windmill at the entrance to the town.

Many of the buildings in downtown Orange City are marked by Dutch facades. Street signs advertising local businesses use Dutch phrases.

Even the local grocery store advertises itself as a “broodjes winkel” (sandwich store).

Every year in May, the city hosts a tulip festival with a parade and lots of Dutch activities like street sweeping and dancing. Local residents dress up in costumes that reflect the different provinces in Holland. 

Our friend Anita has a costume from the province of Friesland, which is where my mom’s family is from. I told Anita that if the Dutch are stubborn, the Frisian people are the most stubborn Dutch people of all. They have their own language with their own vocabulary and insist on differentiating themselves from people in other parts of Holland.

There's a saying that “You can tell the Dutch, but you can’t tell them much.” That does not seem to apply to the people of Orange City, whom we found to be friendly and gracious.

Must not be too many people with Frisian roots in the town.