History of Nederland

Welkom bij de gemeente Nederland
"Welcome to the City of Nederland"

Dutch settlers established Nederland in 1897 as payment for the financial assistance of Dutch financiers who funded the Kansas City Southern railroad line that passes through the city's heart. (The Dutch term for the Netherlands is "Nederland," which translates directly to "Lowland"). The more significant Rienstra, Doornbos, and Van Oostrom families still have descendants in the region today. According to legend, they were drawn to the flat coastal area because it reminded them of their native country (although the heat most certainly did not).

Dairy and rice farming were the main industries of early Nederland. However, the town's rice industry failed due to the slump of 1907 and overproduction. During this time, the majority of Dutch settlers left the region, while a small minority stayed. The town transformed into a residential area for the staff of the local oil terminals following the 1901 discovery of the Spindletop gusher and the construction of the Sun Oil (now Entergy Transfer) terminal close to Nederland.

windmill
Photograph - Beaumont Convention & Vistors Bureau

In 1940, the city of Nederland was officially incorporated. The Golden Triangle is the collective name for the bigger nearby cities of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange. The ports of Port Arthur and Beaumont were equally significant in the 1940s and 1950s as New Orleans, Houston, or Galveston, and Nederland prospered as a result.

Additionally, a sizable number of blue-collar workers were drawn to the area by the refineries. The city has a strong Cajun flavor because southern Louisiana contributed significantly to its development. The local economy suffered and there were small population losses in Nederland during the 1980s oil price fall; but, by the late 1990s and early 2000s, things had recovered.

Nederland is the ending location of the Keystone Pipeline.