Connect your roots event
Saturday October 25, 2025
ROTTERDAM
Connect with what is in your DNA!
Have you ever wondered what makes you unique? Where do certain traits, habits or passions come from? The answers are hidden in your roots. Your family history is not just a collection of stories from the past; it is the foundation of who you are today and the force that drives you tomorrow.
On Saturday, October 25, the third edition of CONNECT YOUR ROOTS will take place, once again offering an inspiring program focused on self-discovery and family history.
Dive into the power of your heritage and shape a future that is not only meaningful and enriching for you as an individual but also for your family!
Why you shouldn't miss this!
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Power and Direction: Our Roots shape who we are. By trusting and connecting with your Roots, you will discover an inexhaustible source of strength and direction for your life.
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Identity: Knowing who your ancestors were and how they lived is an essential part of your identity. Your DNA contains not only genetic information, but also the echoes of the lives, dreams and ambitions of your ancestors.
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Conscious Choices: Become aware of the influence your origins have on the choices you make. It helps you to choose your own path more consciously and with more conviction.
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Discover your Potential: Without a connection to your Roots you may not feel complete. By discovering this bond, you can unlock your full potential, no matter the challenges you face.
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Find Peace: Understanding your family history helps put the loose puzzle pieces of your life into place. Experience peace and satisfaction by knowing who you are and where you come from.
REVIEW Connect Your Roots Event 2023
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The location
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Zuilenstraat 98, Breda
We will once again organize the event in a church building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this year. This building also serves as one of the FamilySearch centers in the Netherlands.
The church building was constructed in 1953-1954. After 57 years of intensive use, it was renovated in 2010. It is one of the oldest buildings used by the Church in the Netherlands.
Tip: Since the church does not have its own parking spaces, it is best to come by public transport.
program
October 25, 2025
1:00 PM
Welcome with a drink
Discover your roots digitally in the Experience Booth.
1:30 PM
Opening
1:40 PM
Keynote1: Rebecca Hintze - author of Healing your Family History
2:00 pM
Keynote 2: Stephanie Biesheuvel- author of her own family history: The Betrayal of the Jordan
2:30 PM
Musical performance
2:40 PM
Break: time to connect and explore the Experience Booth
3:15 pm
Workshop round 1: choice of 5 or 6 workshops: Exploring Your Indo-European Roots, Discover your Surinamese roots, Uncovering Family Patterns, Hands-On Family History with FamilySearch apps, Journaling your way into Family History..and more
4:30 pm
Workshop round 2
5:45 pm
Conclusion and start walking dinner
7:30 pm
End of program
Keynotes and workshops :
Details about the program will follow. See schedule below.
During the event, Cristian Mannino, Experience Manager at FamilySearch Europe, will host a workshop on the new apps and how you can use them to document your family history. You’ll also find FamilySearch, together with other organizations, at the Experience Booth.
FamilySearch is the leading global platform for family history and genealogy research. It offers a wealth of free resources to help you uncover your roots. Experienced genealogists also know FamilySearch as the organizer of RootsTech – the world’s largest family history conference.
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Rebecca Hintze, PhD-c., is an internationally bestselling author, speaker, and mental health specialist. She is an expert in understanding family patterns and how our family history impacts our emotions and well-being.
Her book Healing Your Family History is read worldwide and helps people understand the emotional legacy that is passed down through generations. During the Connect Your Roots Event, Rebecca will share her knowledge on how family stories and history not only shape our identity, but also how we can positively impact future generations through awareness and healing.
In addition to her work as an author and speaker, Rebecca is the founder of the Emotions Mentor® Center for Learning, where she helps people develop emotional intelligence and find balance in their lives. With her extensive experience in natural wellness solutions, she inspires individuals around the world to understand and strengthen their personal and family roots. Rebecca has been happily married for over 31 years, is a mother of four adult children, and a grandmother of five. Her personal experiences and professional expertise make her story powerful and relevant for anyone interested in exploring family history and its impact on our lives.
What if your family members turn out to be traitors? Do you remain silent? Or do you break the silence and dig for the truth?
When her great-grandfather was named in a newspaper article as the possible traitor of Anne Frank, Stephanie Biesheuvel stumbled upon a great family secret. It was the start of a search for her concealed family history. In various archives she found files full of war crimes of her family members during the Second World War.
Each discovery more gruesome than the last. They collaborated with the Nazis and were guilty of betraying Jews and their neighbors, something that was always kept quiet about after the war. Biesheuvel decided to break the silence and wrote the book ‘Het verraad van de Jordaan’ (The Betrayal of the Jordaan), which became a bestseller. ‘A book that is nerve-racking until the last pages.’ Trouw Stephanie Biesheuvel (Amsterdam, 1982) is an author and podcast maker. She wrote ‘Het verraad van de Jordaan’ (The Betrayal of the Jordaan) and made the podcast of the same name for Podimo. She is also a fundraiser for the National Monument Camp Vught. Stephanie lives in Den Bosch and previously wrote the children’s book ‘De Bellende Engel’ (The calling Angel) about this city. Photo: Sanset Pictures | Sander Veeneman
Curious about your roots in the former Dutch East Indies*, but not sure where to start? In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to begin tracing your family history – even if you have no prior experience with genealogy. You’ll receive practical tips, a clear step-by-step guide, and an overview of valuable resources.
Maddy Batelaan works at the CBG | Center for Family History, the leading expertise center for genealogical research in the Netherlands.
She began unraveling her own Indo-European* family tree as a teenager, searching for answers to the silences that lingered in her family’s past. Many people with roots in the former Dutch East Indies will recognize how complex and sometimes elusive that history can be. In her workshop, Maddy focuses on sources related to World War II and the migration to the Netherlands, but she’s also happy to help if your family story follows a different path. The CBG is eager to support young researchers. Never before have there been so many resources available – many of them accessible online, right from your own couch. Genealogy is about more than just names and dates. It’s a way to learn about your ancestors and their lives – because in the end, it’s not only about the past, but also about what that past reveals about you. No prior experience or expertise is needed – just curiosity and a bit of persistence!
*Whether your family is Indo-European, Moluccan, Peranakan Chinese, Javanese, Dutch, or of mixed heritage – everyone with roots in the former Dutch East Indies is warmly welcome. The community is rich in diversity, and every story matters.
Are you curious about your Surinamese family history, but don't know where to start? Or are you already searching and are you stuck in archives and documents? Denie, better known as The Family Tree Guy, takes you on a journey into the past in his inspiring workshop Surinamese family research (for beginners).
With his Surinamese roots and worldly outlook, Denie has been passionately working on unraveling his family story since he was eleven. His search grew into a lifelong mission and took him to archives full of stories about enslaved people, contract workers and forgotten family ties. In this workshop: Learn how to create your own Surinamese family tree Get practical tips for research in 'Surinamese' sources Share your experiences with others and be inspired by personal stories Denie shares his knowledge and experience in an accessible and energetic way. Last year it was a great success and this year we will do it again. Don't miss it!
Lieke van Wermeskerken-Baas is a GZ psychologist and system therapist (NVRG). After her studies in psychology, Lieke first worked in education and later in various institutions within the GGZ. She currently works at Het Kleine Heldenhuis, where she supports families, children and adults after a difficult medical start, such as premature birth or other intensive hospital periods.
What drives Lieke in her work is restoring connection - with yourself, with others and with your own story. Especially in this fast and sometimes confusing world, she sees how important it is to reflect on who we are and where we come from.
In both her work and personal life, she strongly believes in the power of family lines and how the stories of past generations can influence – and strengthen – us. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore in a practical and creative way how the stories, beliefs, and patterns of previous generations continue to influence their lives, relationships, and choices. Through playful methods and reflective exercises, participants will gain insight into their own family history – where they may feel stuck, or where hidden sources of strength can be found. Whether you come on your own, with a friend, partner, or family member – or are a parent yourself – this is an opportunity to reflect on what you want to pass on or consciously break. Be surprised by new insights and connect more deeply with yourself and your roots.
Are you a real source researcher, a surprising creative or more of an enthusiastic storyteller? The past offers all the ingredients for fascinating stories. Even if the starting points are minimal, crucial pieces of the puzzle are missing or data contradict each other incomprehensibly.
During this workshop you will discover the ways in which you can compile your personal family history. Using the three concepts 'My Lab', 'My Atelier' and 'My Stage' you will be introduced to the many possibilities to work with history.
In the first part, My Lab, you’ll receive tools and guidance to help you find and analyze valuable sources for your own research. You'll learn how to stay on top of your discoveries using simple overviews, so you don't lose track or get overwhelmed. Next, in My Studio, creation takes center stage. What has your search uncovered, and what themes or patterns can you identify? Make connections between local and global events. Compare the past with the present and shape your own perspective. Finally, in My Stage, we turn to your audience. Who gets to hear, see, read, or feel your story? From story collections to exhibitions, from spoken word to podcasts — telling your family history has no limits. What will you choose? Bauke Jousma is the founder of VerhalenVerkenner | exploring the past through stories. At the age of 17, he stepped into an archive for the first time, searching for his ancestors and their stories — a curiosity that never left. Five years ago, he started VerhalenVerkenner to help others uncover their own stories. He supports the growing desire people have to learn more about their identity, family lines and patterns, and their origins.
Discover how DNA tests can help you advance in your family research.
Hear inspiring stories about family discoveries from the enthusiastic and knowledgeable country manager of MyHeritage, Marie Cappart. Start your own DNA research and find out from which parts of the world your family lines originate. (More information about this workshop will follow later.)
She will also be available at a presentation table in the discovery corner.
Chanel is a talented singer from Utrecht and is currently studying at the international university Codarts in Rotterdam, where she is working on her bachelor’s degree in Pop Music Vocals. During her teenage years, she would occasionally sing alongside her aunt, Pearl Jozefzoon, at performances. Recently, they shared the stage together at DNA Singers on television, where they amazed the jury with their beautiful duet.
At the Connect Your Roots Event, Chanel will, at our request, perform a beautiful song related to the theme of family patterns. We’re keeping the song a surprise for now, so make sure you don’t miss it!
Connect Your Roots Event
Connect with what is in your DNA!