Perfect Sunday in Nederland...

Once upon a time... one Sunday in March we decided to go somewhere... We unfolded the map and  put our finger on it. Oops... we've picked the wrong page and have to head across the ocean to the Nederlands. Too far for a short Sunday trip, huh? But we looked at the right map and figured out that we also have Nederland in Colorado too ;) And it's not very far away... and the road there is just beautiful!

 

Let's look online and learn something about this place, should we?

Nederland sits in a valley created by a glacier thousands of years ago. The original inhabitants included the Ute and Arapahoe tribes. They used the valley and river left behind by the glacier to hunt and forage in the summer months as the herds traveled to higher terrain. Main park is named after the wife of chief Ouray of the Tabeguache (Uncompahgre) Ute tribe. Chipeta was known as the "Ute Peacemaker" and would often attend tribal council meetings with her husband, which was highly unusual. She was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame for her contributions as a leader and negotiator alongside her husband. The couple was credited with many treaties between the government and the Ute tribes, even traveling to Washington DC to represent the Ute people as head chief. Chief Ouray died in 1880 and Chipeta continued on as a respected leader and advocate for her people.

The first non-native hunters and trappers looking for beaver pelts found their way to the area in the early 1800's. A relatively flat area with a good water source and ample wildlife, the valley was an attractive place for early settlers. In the mid-19th century, the first white homesteaders who settled here gave it a variety of names. First known as Dayton, then Brownsville, and in 1871, when the first post office was located here, it was called Middle Boulder. That was the same year Abel Breed bought the silver-rich Caribou Mine and decided to bring his ore from Caribou Hill to the "warmer" climate of Middle Boulder for milling. It was also the same year the Boulder Canyon Road was completed, though it would be nearly forty years before the first automobile (a Stanley Steamer) would make the difficult trip up from Boulder in 1910.

In 1873, Breed sold the Caribou Mine to the Mining Company Nederland from Holland. Breed's Caribou Mill in Middle Boulder became known among the miners as "the Netherlands," meaning "low lands" (which it is, compared to the town of Caribou at 10,000' elevation). In 1874, when the town was incorporated, the people chose Nederland as the new name.
The mines at Caribou soon declined however, and the Dutch company pulled out just a few years later. By 1890, there was little ore to be milled and Nederland became another mountain ghost town, with only a handful of families living here year around.

A second mining boom began just after the turn of the century. Sam Conger, who had discovered the Caribou silver mine, found tungsten in areas to the north and east of Nederland, and he knew its value in making steel. The old silver mill in Nederland was converted to process tungsten. By 1916, Nederland had a population of nearly 3,000, about twice its present number. During this time, it was possible to travel to Nederland by train, Stanley Steamer, and car. In addition, the town of Lakewood grew north of Nederland and the town of Tungsten sprung up at the foot of Barker Dam. An unnaturally flat area and a small house that once served as the miners' mess hall on the south side of the canyon road just below the dam is scant evidence of the town that still appears on some area maps.

By 1920, the Town's population had plummeted to about 200 people. Automobiles replaced the train, and the cabins became summer getaways for rich folks from the Front Range. For the next 20 years, small mines, farming, ranching, and tourists - picnicking at the new Barker Reservoir - kept the Town alive.
The last small boom was in the 1940's, when demand for tungsten again picked up during World War II. But once again, as demand for tungsten fell, the town was left to a small group of miners, farmers, ranchers, and summer people. Eventually the theater, bowling alley, stores, and banks closed.

Nederland in the 1960's saw a steady increase in population, starting with "hippies" who brought a vibrant music scene and a new lifestyle to the sleepy valley. By the 1990's, Nederland's population had grown quite a bit, accounting for new residents who commuted all along the Front Range for work. At this time, Barker Meadow was developed into the town's only shopping center and plans were underway to spruce up downtown to attract more tourists and encourage local residents to spend their dollars in town, instead of "down the hill" in Boulder.

At the turn of the 21st century, the town's population growth began leveling out. New attractions brought increased tourism and increased revenue to local businesses. A new fire station and new library solidified Nederland's position as the hub of the Peak to Peak Community. Townsfolk now wonder what the future will bring. What will Nederland's next boom look like? Or its next bust? How will we retain the town's unique character as the times around it change. One thing is certain: Nederland is a town like no other, and always will be.

What can I add? Nederland is a nice mountain town, one of many. You can find a couple of 100-150-years-old buildings there as well as a museum of mining machinery... You can have coffee and lunch, and enjoy some local events. A great place to spend a day elevated and away from the bustling city!

That time we spent a few hours wandering around and drove to Eldora to have lunch at the cafeteria and watch the skiers.

It was a beautiful sunny day and we found ourselves surrounded by hundreds of people flying down the hill and creating a magical feeling. It was amazing!

 

We didn't stop much on our way back home... Peak to Peak highway is a great road for driving and enjoying the mountain vistas and even though we were a bit overwhelmed with new impressions, we wanted the road to never end... but... eventually we were downhill, where there was no trace of snow and cool mountain air ;(

The history of Nederland was found here - Town of Nederland. 

The pictures were taken on March 07, 2010.