Russian secrets of Amsterdam
16 Nov 2011
A special lecture about Russian history in Amsterdam attracted 60 participants.
What Russian secrets can be found whilst walking the
streets of Amsterdam? This was the topic of the special lecture ‘Russia in the
reflection of Dutch streets’ given by Duke Meijman.
Mejiman, a Slavic scholar and teacher of Dutch and Russian language at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, took the audience 700 years back in time to when the history of Russian-Dutch relationship began - with business and trade.
The centuries old relationship is reflected in the street names of Amsterdam, the Dutch capital. The Archangelsk embankment (Archangelkade), for example, dates to the 17th century when wood from the Northern Russian region was exported to Amsterdam.
The lecture, which took place in the Oval Hall of the Russian Library for Foreign Literature, was organized by Nuffic Neso and is a part of the cycle of so called Boekenhoekje lectures (Book Corner in English). The name refers to the small Dutch Library where students can borrow Dutch books and DVD’s. The lectures, which are devoted to Dutch language and culture, are given in Dutch – with Russian translations.
Nova Zembla
Meijman’s passionate interest in Russia started in her childhood. She noticed strange, and to her unknown, names whilst walking Amsterdam’s streets during the days of the Cold War when little was known in the West about life in Soviet Russia.
Duke began her lecture by showing the audience a map
of Amsterdam. “Murmansk and Alchangelstraat close to the Amsterdam harbor refer
to the cities of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk which were some of the first foreign
ports that were trading partners of the Netherlands in the 17th century” Duke
told the audience. “As well as the street Nova Zembla named after the island
Novaya Zemlya located in the north of Russia, which Willem Barentz, Dutch sailor
and discoverer, travelled to during his expedition in 1596.”
Bear street
Some curious facts Meijman told during the lecture: “The name of the Russia street (Rusland straat) has nothing in common with Russia. Actually it comes from the name of Willem Ruusschentuin. The name then evolved to become ‘t Ruyssenlandt then ‘t Russeland and finally Rusland”.
The street name Beerstraat (Bear street) does come from the relationship between the two countries. Bears have never inhabited the Netherlands, but the knowledge about these animals – and the export of their pelts – are still present in the street name.
A lot can be told about the friendship between our countries
which became very strong when Tsar Peter the Great became interested in Dutch
culture and industry and came to Amsterdam for 4 months in 1697. This long
friendship is visible even in the names of streets.
Around 60 students attended the lecture by Duke Meijman, as well as professors and teachers of the Dutch language. After the lecture a Question-and-Answer session took place.
More information about the Dutch library ‘Boekenhoekje: http://www.nesorussia.org/home/nederlands-boekenhoekje
