The Tainan City Government invited Dutch YouTuber Rik-Jan Willemsen (韋毅民)
and his family to tour Tainan in order to get ready for the "Tainan 400" event the following year. They not only enjoyed the allure of the historic city but also learned about Taiwan's link with the Netherlands via artifacts from the past. On his YouTube page, Rik-Jan Willemsen will also release a two-part video featuring his family's trip to Tainan.
New Dutch immigrants take a trip to Tainan to trace their roots and explore the historical footprints of their Dutch ancestors 400 years ago.Photo reproduced from 荷蘭人在台灣Willemsen in Taiwan YouTube channel
In 2020, Dutch missionary Rik-Jan Willemsen relocated his family to Taiwan. His six-member family currently resides in Chiayi County. Apart from his regular missionary work, Rik-Jan Willemsen is also immersed in Taiwanese language and culture learning, and he frequently shares videos of his family life on YouTube.
Rik-Jan Willemsen, his wife Hester (林子宣), and their four kids went to Tainan Chihkan Tower, Anping Castle, and other historical locations and attractions related to the Netherlands during their vacation to the city. They learnt about Tainan's history and the memories this place has via asking and answering questions with the kids during the journey.
New Dutch immigrants take a trip to Tainan to trace their roots and explore the historical footprints of their Dutch ancestors 400 years ago.Photo reproduced from 荷蘭人在台灣Willemsen in Taiwan YouTube channel
Before their journey, Rik-Jan Willemsen and his wife thoroughly perused books and historical documents pertaining to Tainan. Through this journey to Tainan, they wish to share with the kids the history that both Tainan and the Netherlands have in common and show them how Tainan has been shaped by the interactions of many ethnic groups from a Dutch point of view.
