Korea Cultural Exchange Program
Since the unveiling of the statue of Jan Janszn. Weltevree in 1988, various activities were organized in De Rijp to emphasize the historical connection between De Rijp and Korea.
The Koreans Come to De Rijp
Commemoration Day 2019
On a sun-drenched Monday, August 26, the 6th Commemoration Day on which the bond between South Korea and De Rijp is commemorated. This bond is created by the fact that our fellow villager Jan Janszn. Weltevree set foot in Korea in 1627, the first Westener who became a real Korean.
Commemoration Day 2018
This year was the 5th Commemoration Day. It took place in Hotel De Rijper Eilanden at August 24. This was a special edition of the bond between South Korea and De Rijp, created by our famous fellow villager. The statue of Jan Janszn. Weltevree, made by the artist Elly Baltus, is standing next to the 'Grote Kerk' (Main Church) for 30 years.
Visit to Hamelhuis Gorinchem
On November 4, 2017 the foundation Jan Janszoon Weltevree visited the Hamelhuis museum in Gorichem. Hendrick Hamel, born in 1630 in Gorinchem was maritime bookkeeper of the VOC ship De Sperwer, which was shipwrecked in 1653 off the coast of the Korean island of Jeju. There he was captured with the survivors and led to the king, who was accompanied by a white man with a red beard, the Dutchman Jan Janszoon Weltevree. After 13 years, Hamel escaped to Japan and wrote his Journael, an interesting story about the closed kingdom of Korea, written by one of the first Europeans to set foot there. In this book, which appeared in several European countries, he also tells about the existence of Jan Janszoon Weltevree from De Rijp.
We were received warmly in Gorinchem by the board members Dick van Zanten, Jeroen van Rosmalen, Evert van Sprakelaar, Steven Dondorp and the historian Valentine Wikaart and were given an interesting tour of the beautifully restored museum.
President Fré received a surprise gift of a facsimile copy of the Hamel Journal from the Hamelhuis board.
Yi Jun 110 Year Commemoration Ceremony
On July 14 2017 chairman of the foundation, Frederik Harmsen had been invited to deliver a speech at the
Yi Jun 110 Year Commemoration Ceremony at the Nieuw Eik en Duinen Cemetery in The Hague
Part of his speech :
When in the morning of September 5th 1907 Yi Jun was buried here, only one Dutch official was present: Mr. Baron Mackay, City Councillor of The Hague and member of the Provincial Government. Mr. Mackay was chairman of the Young Men's Christian Association, the YMCA.
Visit of Mayor Piet Bruinooge to Korea
At the invitation of the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mayor Piet Bruinooge of Alkmaar visited South Korea from 4 to 10 September 2016. During his visit they discussed future co-operation between Alkmaar and South Korea in the economic and touristic area and the development of the good contacts that already existed, based on the person of Jan Janszn. Weltevree. These contacts can contribute to the further development of trade, investment and tourism in the Alkmaar region with South Korea and vice versa.
Commemoration Day
On Friday, August 26, 2016, a special commemoration day was held in the Great Church of De Rijp in honor of Jan Janszoon Weltevree. After a welcome by the chairman of the Jan Janszn. Weltevree Foundation, Frederik Harmsen, the day was officially opened by the Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea, H.E. Jonghyun Choi. Other speakers were Mayor Piet Bruinooge of Alkmaar and collector and writer Peter der Kinderen. The afternoon closed with musical from Korean musicians and a beautiful film on De Rijp.
Korean Deputy Mayor visits De Rijp
Deputy Mayor Hur Baob Ryul of South Korea's Seogwipo rang the bell of the Alkmaar cheese market on Friday April 29 at 10:00. Then he arrived with a delegation from South Korea, Alderman Pieter Dijkman and other officials from Alkmaar via the museum mills in the Schermer to Graft. After a lunch at the historic town hall, the party went by boat to De Rijp with Jaap Klaver as the captain.. There they were welcomed by the village crier Jan Geert the First both in Korean and English. The reason for Hur Baob Ryul's visit originates in the historical ties between the region and the Republic of Korea.
Kings Day 2014
On the occasion of King Willem Alexander's 47th anniversary, the royal family celebrated the first King's Day in De Rijp on April 26, 2014. At the statue of Jan Janszn. Weltevree the royal family was greeted by the Korean Ambassador H.E. Mr. Lee. Delicious Korean snacks were presented there.
