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Legacy: The Dutch Tradition at Hofstra University

By Steve Wick | Staff Writer

There may be nothing on Long Island more Dutch than Hofstra University. According to the university's archives, the school's seal is the coat of arms of the royal house of the Netherlands; the school flag is based on a flag planted in New Netherlands by Dutch settlers; the school's athletic teams are the Flying Dutchmen and Flying Dutchwomen; a dormitory complex is named the Netherlands, and the school's commencement ceremonies traditionally begin with greetings in Dutch.

In 1985, in honor of Hofstra's 50th anniversary, the Dutch government named a white hybrid tulip the Hofstra University tulip. It is the first tulip named for an American university.

The university is named after William S. Hofstra, who traced his roots to the Dutch province of Friesland. Hofstra was president of the Nassau Lumber Co. in Hicksville and Hempstead and was well-known for his charitable endeavors. He built an estate-style house in Hempstead in 1904, which he called The Netherlands. After his death in 1932, his widow stipulated in her will that the estate be used for a public purpose. Hofstra College was started in 1935.