U.S. Consulate General Unveils Commemorative Adoption Quilt And Celebrates Dutch American Friendship Day

Adoptive kids and parents search for their portion of the quilt.

CG Ruterbories with quilt designers from the American Protestant Church in The Hague

Last June, the Consulate General hosted an ice cream social event celebrating international adoptions.  The purpose was to recognize the work done by the Dutch Ministry of Justice, certified adoption agencies, and others in facilitating adoptions.  The event also provided a networking occasion for Dutch adoptive parents and their American born children to get to know one another and introduced many of them to a favorite American pastime.

On April 19, which has been celebrated since 1982 as Dutch American Friendship Day, the U.S. Consulate General commemorated last year’s event by unveiling a large, patchwork quilt made of drawings from children that attended the ice cream social.  Consul General Ruterbories spoke about adoption between the U.S. and The Netherlands and thanked the quilting group from the American Protestant Church in The Hague, who took on the task of piecing the quilt together.  Many of the same participants were on hand, including Ministry of Justice officials, parents, and adopted children.