Netherlands America Institute Limburg ----------------------------- Nederland Amerika Instituut Limburg

Why You Should Belong! After WWII, the Netherlands-America Institute Limburg (NAIL) has been founded in 1952. Similar groups established after WW ll elsewhere in the Netherlands have ceased functioning, but NAIL remains strong. Why? Because of two key sources: Firstly, the special bonds formed between Limburg and the U.S.A. in the wake of the liberation of this area in 1944-45 by American troops. There are still NAIL members today who, as children, personally witnessed the arrival of U.S. troops in their towns, housed U.S. soldiers in their homes, and cared for the graves of the thousands of U.S. soldiers interred in the war cemetery at Margraten. More graves of U.S. soldiers have been “adopted” by ordinary citizens at Margraten then at any other U.S. war cemetery. The fact that so many local people continue to visit Margraten, including Dutch schoolchildren, underscores the region’s continuing commitment to U.S.-Dutch relations. Secondly, the NATO and US military presence here is the region resulted in strong ties with US senior Commanders, Officers and civilians. Thanks to their continuous support and commitment, the NAIL remains strong. What are NAIL Objectives? Key objectives of the NAIL are to maintain & strengthen social, cultural and economic ties, to promote friendship between citizens of the U.S.A., the Netherlands and other nations. The NAIL is a non-political organization. Today, the NAIL has well over 200 members of Dutch, American, Irish, German and Belgium nationalities. We have established strong ties with the US Embassy and its Consul General, the Schinnen Tri-Border Community, Allied Joint Force Command Headquarters Brunssum, Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, AFNORTH International School, the Limburg Veteran Day Foundation, the SHAK 1944 (Foundation of the Commemoration of the American

Christmas Eve 1944) , the American Overseas Remember and the Foundation of the Adoption of American Graves, Margraten. What do we do? Well, you may wish to experience the NAIL as a platform facilitating people to connect, share information & experiences, to identify synergies and to establish networks resulting in mutual understanding and appreciation. Some Members compare the NAIL with an open sliced onion; you may see & experience many different layers: networks/activities. You are able to get involved in these layers, but you are also able to add an additional layer/network to the onion. This platform generates a wide range of activities. NAIL major events are the annual Memorial Eve event and participation in Memorial Day Services the following Day and the celebration of the birthday of Queen Beatrix & King Willem Alexander. Other activities include theme dinner & dance events, Beer Calls, meetings, excursions/visits to area breweries, international organizations such as EUROCONTROL, European Institutions such as , EU Parliament & Commission, factories, historic places, museums, castles and selected area restaurants. NAIL sponsors special guest lectures on topics of interest. If you have a particular field of expertise or interest, we would welcome having you speak at a NAIL-organized event! But, we should not forget that promoting & preserving the cultural, economic and social contacts between the Netherlands and the USA. Furthermore, providing information & assistance to Americans (and our US Members) residing in Limburg and elsewhere in the Netherlands are essential in achieving our key objectives. How is NAIL organized? The NAIL has a Board of 7 Members, including 3 US Members, which is a firm indication of US commitment and participation. The Board is fully accountable for its actions to its members. For this purpose, a General Membership Meeting is held annually. How Do I Join? Are you interested to join, but would appreciate additional clarification and/or information, please contact the following Board members: Chairman of the Board: Drs Arthur Philip Lieuwen, T: +31.46.4231866, E-mail: { HYPERLINK "mailto:Arthur.lieuwen@online.nl" } Vice-Chairman: Lt. Colonel Kevin Virts, T:+31.45.5254257, E-mail: { HYPERLINK "mailto:kevmarvirts@yahoo.com" }

Secretary : Mr Hans Debie, T: +31.45-531 6031. E-mail: { HYPERLINK "mailto:jsdebie@hetnet.nl" } Treasurer : Mr Leo Crombach, T:+31.45.5423866, E-mail: { HYPERLINK "mailto:leo.crombach@lijnspel.nl" } Member: Mrs Teresa Duke, T: +31.6.53571025, E-mail: { HYPERLINK "mailto:Teresa.hobart.duke@gmail.com " } Member: Drs Frans Beckers, T: +31.46.4432432, E-mail: { HYPERLINK "mailto:f.g.j.m.beckers@hetnet.nl" } Member: Mr Edward Rotay, T: +45.5111154, E-mail: { HYPERLINK "mailto:ed.rotay@us.army.mil" } What are the costs? The Secretary and the Treasurer of the Board will assist you with the required application forms, which you are requested to fill out. Our annual membership dues are € 60 for couples and € 45 for single persons. Organized activities and events should be –in principle- self-sufficient.

NAIL NEDERLAND- AMERIKA INSTITUUT LIMBURG

OPGERICHT / FOUNDED IN 1952 DOELSTELLINGEN

OBJECTIVES

NAIL NEDERLAND - AMERIKA INSTITUUT LIMBURG

! Een onafhanklijke, zonder winstoogmerk, a-politieke organisatie.

! Onderhoudt sociale, culturele en economische banden.

! Bevordert vriendschap tussen de burgers van Amerika, Nederland en andere landen.

! Bijzondere nadruk op de provincie Limburg.

Secretariaat:

Mr. Hans Debie Kleikoeleweg 112

6373 CD LANDGRAAF Tel. 045 5316031

Bankrelatie: ING. 271 00 49 t.n.v. NAIL

Kamer van Koophandel, Zuid Limburg. Registratie V - 4020 3561

NAIL

NEDERLAND - AMERIKA INSTITUUT LIMBURG

! An independent, non-profit, apolitical organisation.

! Maintains social, cultural and economic ties.

! Promotes friendship between citizens of the U.S.A, The Netherlands and other nations.

! Focuses primarily on the province of Limburg.

Secretariat:

Mr. Hans Debie

Kleikoeleweg 112 6373 CD Landgraaf, The Netherlands

Tel: 045 5316031

Bank account: ING. 271 00 49 t.n.v. NAIL

Chamber of Commerce, Zuid Limburg. Registration V - 4020 3561

D0ELSTELLINGEN

Het NEDERLAND - AMERIKA INSTITUUT LIMBURG bereikt zijn doelstellingen, namelijk de culturele, sociale en wetenschappelijke contacten tussen Nederland en Amerika, en Limburg in het bijzonder, te handhaven, dan weI te bevorderen, door:

! Het houden van bijeenkomsten, excursies, lezingen, filmavonden en maatschappelijke bijeenkomsten, enz;

! Het verspreiden van wetenschappelijke, culturele en algemene informatie aan alle leden en aan verscheidene studiemedia buiten verenigingsverband;

! Het bevorderen van kontakten met Amerikanen die in Limburg, dan wel eIders in Nederland voor kortere en / of langere duur verblijven;

! Het verschaffen van faciliteiten en informatie, indien zulks gewenst, aan Amerikaanse bezoekers;

! Het leggen van kontakten met bestaande, respectievelijk op te richten, organisaties in Nederland welke een gelijk doel nastreven en dit met adequate middelen trachten te bereiken.

! Het bevorderen van haar doelstellingen met !eiders van regeringen, handel en industrie en wetenschappelijke en culturele instituten.

! De interesse van de jeugd voor Amerika, in algemene zin, te activeren.

OBJECTIVES

The NEDERLAND – AMERIKA INSTITUUT LIMBURG achieves it objectives, namely developing and preserving the cultural, social and scientific contacts between the Netherlands and America, and Limburg in particular, through the following activities:

! Organising meetings, excursions, lectures, film evenings, social gatherings, etc;

! Disseminating cultural and general information to members and educational institutions;

! Promoting contacts with Americans who reside in Limburg and elsewhere in the Netherlands;

! Providing information and assistance to American visitors upon request;

! Developing and preserving contacts with similar organisations in the Netherlands and throughout Europe;

! Promoting its objectives with leaders of government, trade and industry, and scientific and cultural institutions;

! Stimulating interest in the United States of America by European youth.

GESCHIEDENIS

Het blijven onderhouden van een reeds lang bestaande vriendschap en goede relaties, welke reeds bestonden voor de ondertekening van de Onafhankelijkheids Verklaring

Het Nederland-Amerika Instituut Limburg, NAIL, werd opgericht om de betrekkingen tussen beide landen te bevorderen en te versterken. Het streven om deze wensen te vervullen kan worden gespiegeld aan het grote aantal Nederlanders dat al gauw na de ontdekking van Amerika, dit land als hun nieuwe vaderland verkozen. Zoals Nederland Amerika heeft ondersteund in de begin jaren van haar ontstaan, zo hebben de Amerikanen via de Marshall Hulp gezorgd voor de wederopbouw, de welvaart en de vrijheid in Nederland na de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Deze inspanning in het verleden is het fundament geweest voor het ontstaan van NAlL.

NAlL is ontstaan in 1952 als gevolg van de zeer enge banden welke waren ontstaan tussen de bevolking van Limburg en hun Amerikaanse bevrijders tijdens en na de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Via NAIL werd de mensen van Limburg onder andere de gelegenheid geboden om kennis te maken met de Amerikaanse cultuur en de economische mogelijkheden Het succes van dit streven is te zien in de actieve uitwisseling van Nederlandse en Amerikaanse wetenschappers en studenten, en in het feit dat de Nederlandse zakenwereld een van de grootste is binnen de groep van buitenlandse investeerders in de Verenigde Staten. Sinds de oprichting van NAIL is het steeds haar streven geweest om de vriendschap tussen Nederland en de Verenigde Staten te bevorderen door uitwisseling van sociale, culturele, economische programma's en aspecten betreffende het onderwijs. Naast deze hoofddoelstellingen heeft NAIL ook nauwe betrekkingen met organisaties binnen en buiten Nederland welke dezelfde doelstellingen nastreven. Dit heeft ertoe bijgedragen dat NAIL nu een multinationale organisatie is.

Lidmaatschap en deelneming aan NAIL activiteiten en evenementen staan daarom open voor alle personen die, ongeacht hun nationaliteit, bereid zijn de doelstellingen van NAIL te steunen.

BACKGROUND and PURPOSE

To continue a rich history of ongoing friendship and warm relations that began even before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The Nederland-Amerika Instituut Limburg, or NAIL, was established to promote and strengthen Dutch-American relations. The desire for these bonds can been seen in the large number of Dutch people who chose the New World as their home after its discovery.

Just as the Netherlands supported the United States in its early years, Americans, through the Marshall Plan, became the primary supporters of the realisation of the plans for the prosperity currently enjoyed in the Netherlands in its early years of post-war freedom. All of these historical events have been the foundation and strength of NAIL.

NAIL emerged in 1952 as an outgrowth of the close relations developed between the people of Limburg and their American liberators at the conclusion of World War II. Through NAIL the people of Limburg have been given access to American culture and economic opportunities. The success of this venture can be seen in an active exchange of Dutch-American scholars and in the fact that Dutch business represents one of the largest single groups of foreign investors in the United States.

Throughout its history, the underlying objective of NAIL has been to further Dutch friendship with the United States of America through social, cultural, educational and economic endeavours. While those remain NAIL's current goals, NAIL also maintains close contact with organisations in the Netherlands and other European countries that pursue similar objectives. This has helped NAIL to become a multi-national organisation.

Membership and participation in NAIL activities and events have therefore been open to all people who, regardless of nationality, are willing to support the objectives of NAIL.

Three Hands

by Pierre Paul -Pépé- Grégoire A tribute to the bonds of friendship and mutual

understanding between the people of the United States of America and the Netherlands, Limburg and Margraten

is presented to the Citizens of Margraten by

Het Nederland Amerika instituut Limburg NAIL

1 december 1991