Nijdam (Nydam), a widely ramified family of farmers, still found in the Dutch province of Friesland and elsewhere in the Netherlands, whose ancestor, as far as is known, was Willem Willems Nydam (about 1550-1635), living at Nydamstra Estate (state farmhouse) near Irnsum. He belonged to the Reformed Church, as did the first generations of his descendants; but since the 18th century there have been a number of Mennonite Nijdam families, particularly near Akkrum and Grouw. Cornelis Nijdam was a descendant of Willem Willems Nydam.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 879. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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