Holland America Line Exhibit at Ellis Island Officially Open

Holland America Line partnered with The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, the 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the eponymous landmarks, to celebrate the cruise line’s 150-year journey from immigrant carrier to consumer ocean liner fleet. An element of the partnership includes a curated exhibit at Ellis Island detailing the brand’s historical prominence in bringing one in 10 immigrants from Europe to the United States.

From 1880 until 1920, nearly 2 million people boarded Holland America Line ships in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, bound for the “New World,” many landing in New York. The Holland America Line exhibit brings this story to life, displaying passenger manifests — including ones with famous faces such as Albert Einstein, Frank Oz and Max Beckmann — as well as historic photos, past ship information, classic Holland America Line posters and Dutch-themed memorabilia. Photographs taken by Ellis Island Clerk Augustus Sherman, who took around 200 photos of immigrants on Ellis Island, are part of the exhibition and show the emigration experience.

A centerpiece of the exhibit is a display with ship models of Rotterdam I, Rotterdam II and Rotterdam III made by Rotterdam VII Captain Werner Timmers. Captain Timmers discovered that models of these ships did not exist, so he set out to make his own. They are created from scrap wood, toothpicks, chopsticks and other materials he found on board. The completed models were presented to Lean and The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation at Holland America Line’s 150th Anniversary Event in New York City aboard Rotterdam Oct. 15, 2022.

The exhibit is open through early May 2023. Learn more about Holland America Line’s 150-year history.