Why is our town called Nederland?

Our area has undergone many changes in the 150 years as a settlement and town. First in the area
were Native American groups who hunted and traveled through here for generations. 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 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 round.

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. 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 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.

Though there were short-lived revivals of tungsten mining during World War II and in the early 1950s,
the area’s mining fortunes gradually faded since World War I and Nederland evolved into a refuge from
the heat of the plains and from the angst of city life. Good folks from all over the country have come to
settle here and take part in recreating new lives in one of the most beautiful spots on earth.

You’ll be glad you chose to visit and we know you’ll come back.
NEDERLAND, COLORADO Elevation  8,236'
Population 1,394  

Nederland is 17 miles west of, and 3000 feet above, the city of Boulder, and is the largest town along
the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway that runs more than 55 miles from Black Hawk/Central City to Estes
Park. Along the way, motorists will pass ghost towns, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, the Indian Peaks
Wilderness Area, Longs Peak (14,255'), and Rocky Mountain National Park. The road is well paved and
open all year. It is one of the most scenic drives in the state. Nederland is served by regularly
scheduled daily RTD bus service to and from Boulder.

The history of our area was built upon mining, primarily gold, silver, and tungsten. (Please see below for
additional information on history of Nederland). Later the area became a destination for those seeking
outdoor recreation, the quiet beauty of the mountains, and a slower way of community life. In addition
to towns that have long since been deserted or abandoned, there are three National Historic Districts
close by: Eldora, Ward, and Central City.

Summers in Nederland are popular for tourists. A good first stop, and a source for maps and information
on area recreational opportunities, is the Nederland Visitors Center operated by the Nederland Area
Chamber of Commerce and located in the center of downtown.

In the fall of the year thousands of visitors flock to the area to view the spectacular vistas of golden
aspens that blanket the nearby hillsides. Fall is also an excellent time for hiking and biking with days
that are usually dry and warm.

Winter visitors come to cross-country ski or snowshoe in the back country, or to ski and snowboard at
Eldora Mountain Resort just five miles from town. Five hotels and motels and over a dozen restaurants,
cafes, and coffee houses provide a variety of cuisine and dining options. Live entertainment is often
available at one or more of these establishments.

Less than a mile north of downtown on Highway 72 is the Nederland Community Center. This building
hosts many special events and gatherings, and is home to many local organizations. The Nederland
Community Library, The Nederland Area Seniors, The Nederland Lions Club, The Backdoor Theater
(which presents first run movies on the weekends), Wild Bear Science School, and the Nederland Arts
Cooperative share the building with the offices of the Nederland Police Department and the Nederland
Fire Protection District.

In addition, Nederland has a well equipped Youth and Family Center at the west end of Barker
Reservoir. The Doc Gilespie House and a new Mining Museum, both operated by the Nederland Historical
Society, are in the downtown area.

Over the years, Nederland has been home to a variety of colorful and interesting characters. Perhaps
none has been more controversial or, recently, more famous than Grandpa Bredo, who has been kept
frozen for several years in a storage shed with the help of bi-weekly dry ice deliveries. A short film
documentary of his story, “Grandpa’s in the Tuff Shed,” has been making the film festival circuits in
recent years.

Nederland is also the home of the award-winning Mountain-Ear newspaper, THE source of news and
information for residents all along the Peak to Peak Highway.