We are creating an exhibit in which we are celebrating the four hundredth anniversary of the dutch settlemnt in the new world, more specifically in Brooklyn, New York. The things that is quite interesting about our particular exhibit is that we have the actual journal of an explorer of that time. His name was Jasper Dankearts. When we read the translations of his journal, the thing that stood out to me was how much he took religion into account. He would often spoke of how godless a person was and would make his job to document everyone's religion. Also he would tell of all of their sins and ungodly acts. In his journal he would speak of the "kill devil" and how terrible it was when really it was just rum. He would look down on the people who would not go to church when the needed to. According to Japp Jacobs, one of the scholars that is helping us; he said that from what he read n the jouirnal and from what we have read ourselves Jasper thought himself as a very pure man.
I really enjoyed doing this program and learning about a man who is exploring the new world through such eyes. Though I find Jasper Dankearts to be quite judgemental and somewhat harsh I understand as well that during that time that there was as many "thrills". This has taught me a lot about the where we live as well as the history to our loverly borough. Today we are working and beginning to gather the stuff needed to set up for the opening night.
>> I wonder what Jasper Dankearts would say about the people now and how godless we are, he would be so proud
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Hi everyone, My name is Danielle and I'm a writer and editor originally from Brooklyn, NY, now living in Amsterdam, Holland. I'm writing an article for a website about a festival we're having here in the Dutch town of Breukelen, celebrating the Brooklyn-Breukelen connection. I would like to interview one or more of you about what you learned from curating this exhibition. Anyone who's interested can email me at danielle.latman@expatica.com. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHello, Jasper danckaerts lived at Wiuwert in Fryslân (Netherland). e was a member of the labadists, who had in that village their home in an old castle. On the 8 of june 1679 he left with Peter to New Amsterdam en write his notes. 330 years ago the history begins in Wiuwert - Fryslân.
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