Comments on: The Groote Beer

By: Hubertina Ladeur

Hubertina Ladeur — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:09:50 +0000

Type in the ship name and dates,I found mine that way

By: Hubertina Ladeur

Hubertina Ladeur — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:07:42 +0000

I just entered the ship name and dates and found our passenger list

By: Hubertina Ladeur

Hubertina Ladeur — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:06:03 +0000

My family also travelled on the Groote Beer in 1957 -we launched in Quebec and came to BC

By: Ray Koolstra

Ray Koolstra — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:08:36 +0000

My Late father Gerrit Koolstra returned on the Groote Beer from Indonesia in 1949 where he was for 4.5 years, he then Immigrated to Melbourne with my mother Greta van Kooten in October 1950 on the Vollendam.

By: Hugo Schouten

Hugo Schouten — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 10:46:30 +0000

I have a website about the Groote Beer. Please send me a copy of the passenger list for 26 Sep 1955. Much thanks. hugo@accountant.com.

By: Gerrit Visser

Gerrit Visser — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:29:44 +0000

Hi Hans,
You might try contacting Pier 21. They have a scan of the front page of that passenger list so it apparently was a reality http://culturetrunks.pier21.ca/netherlands/artefacts/ The 8th image under Ship Memorabilia is the one.

There was a UFO sighting reported in mid 1954 from the Groote Beer as well…..http://thecid.com/ufo/chrono/ce2/1954.htm

Gerrit

By: Leo Van Vliet

Leo Van Vliet — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 23:19:44 +0000

My father Leendert Van Vliet was crew and carpenter on the Groote Beer. He took many Dutch migrtants from Holland to the US, Canada and Australia – before he migrated himself to Australia in the mid 50s

By: Harry

Harry — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:12:20 +0000

Hi My name is Harry Suender I was surfing the net and came across a passenger list of the Groote Beer in which my family was included. This was Nov 1952, and I was five at the time. When we came over the Groote Beer broke down with engine problems and according to my parents we were two weeks late. They had to ration food, and of course everyone got sea sick because we had no power and adrift.

One thing I remember as if it was yesterday was, somehow I got away from my parents and went on deck in a savage storm. I was hanging on the rails when a woman started screaming because she was fearful I might fall over. She ran to get me, but with the ship bobbing she slipped, fell and broke her arm. Out of nowhere came my dad, grabbed me and of course I got a spanking.

I also remember the ship running out of Barf Bags and every morning my mom had to open my eyes with warm water because my lashes would crust over with salt which cause me extreme panic because I couldn’t see. To this day I can not sleep in a totally dark room because I have to know if I can open my eyes. quite a experience for a five year old.

By: Hans

Hans — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:11:20 +0000

Please, does anybody else remember the trip on which I commented above? Groote Beer. Rotterdam/Halifax/New York. Approximate dates: Leave Rotterdam July 18?19?20? 1954. Arrive New York: July 29, 1954. I know I wasn’t the only passenger. For some reason, nobody ever comments on that trip. I sometimes wonder if I was dreaming.
Are there any passenger lists for that trip floating around ?

By: Johanna Antje Bergsma

Johanna Antje Bergsma — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:21:08 +0000

Thank you so much for the information Gerrit. I did go to immigration this morning and I don’t need it. As long as you were a Canadian Citizen before 1977 you are o.k. But thank you for the link to the passenger list which I am passing on to my siblings as I’m sure they would like to have it as well. Also, one of my boys loves all this heritage information so I have sent it to him as well. Thanks again.