THE HALVE MAEN AWARD
The Halve Maen award is granted annually during the Queen's Birthday Celebration to an individual who has worked to strengthen the Dutch-American relationship in the Atlanta community.

The Halve Maen (Half Moon) was a Dutch East India Company ship which sailed into what is now New York harbor in September of 1609. Captained by Henry Hudson, the ship was looking for a western passage to China. As Hudson sailed up the river now bearing his name, he claimed the area for the Dutch and opened the land for settlers who followed. His voyage came some 10 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. The arrival of the Halve Maen gave the Dutch a significant role in establishing what would become a new nation based on personal freedom, tolerance and liberty.

In the spirit of Hudson's great voyage, the 2008 Halve Maen Award was granted to Simpha Savelsbergh. In early 2002, Simpha founded de Molenwiek, a Dutch language and culture program for preschool and elementary school children in Atlanta, to address parents' concerns that their children forget their Dutch heritage during their time abroad. Six years later, Simpha stands at the head of the only Dutch language educator in Atlanta accredited by the Ministry of Education in The Hague.

Simpha has been the driving force behind de Molenwiek and has made the school – and Dutch language and culture – an integral part of living in metro Atlanta for many Dutch nationals. We honor Simpha with the 2008 Halve Maen Award for her tireless efforts to strengthen Dutch-American relations in the Atlanta community.