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2026 Rhein Valley

Created Friday 17 July 2026

In the summer of 2026 I was fortunate to take a cruise down the Rhein River from Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam, Netherlands. This was very significant to me in a family history sense since many of my Germanic ancestors inhabited the areas on both sides of the Rhein, particularly within about a 50 km radius of Karlsruhe. They certainly were in the area from just after the 30 years war (ended in 1648) through the entirety of the 18th century. (Some relatives even stayed longer, and distant cousins can be found there today.) A picture of the route of the cruise follows.

Towns along the way are listed below as well as how I saw them in terms of my ancestors. A "Story Map" overview (based on a tool by Knight Lab at Northwestern University) is here.

  • Basel - After the 30 years war, areas in what is now NE France and SW Germany were depopulated to the tune of as much as 80%. Some of the people who filled the void came from Switzerland. One of my very distant ancestors in the 17th century may have been such a person.
  • Breisach - This town is something of a gateway to the Black Forest. A beautiful area, but I don't know of any ancestors who were there.
  • Colmar - Some of Colmar presents a preserved town with many aspects harkening back to the 18th century. Although my ancestors do not appear the have been this far south, the architecture of the town probably mimics what they would have experienced where they lived.
  • Strasbourg - Strasbourg is closer to where my ancestors lived - just a little bit south and a much larger place than the ones my ancestors experienced. It has a beautiful old central area as well as outer areas with more modern architecture. Many EU offices are here.
  • Speyer - This town is where the bishop to whom the priests that my ancestors worked with resided. It was a clerical focal point. Again, its old areas probably still reflect what my ancestors might have experienced if they visited here. This is the most special place in terms of my ancestry.
  • Rűdesheim - Rűdesheim is a beautifully maintained small town on the right bank of the Rhein. Again, its old architecture and spaces probably mimic the 18th century in some ways.
  • Koblenz - I think of Koblenz as a Prussian stronghold in the resistance to the French military incursions in this area.
  • Middle Rhein Gorge - This was probably the most striking daytime cruise experience owing to the presence of so many old castles on both sides of the Rhein.
  • Kőln - I remember some unexplained hints about the presence of people by the name of Rombs in this area. It has an amazing large cathedral and spaces reconstructed after WW II.
  • Amsterdam - We visited Kinderdijk, which provided a glimpse into the operation of the windmill pumping stations. Clever, scenic.

It was wonderful to see how this part of the world has developed. It still provides a clear contrast to the USA - older architecture and institutions, exceptional public transportation, lots of people moving around using bicycles, walk-able spaces, friendly multi-lingual people, etc.

Galleries of photos from visits to these towns are here.


Backlinks:
281connections Wiki:South Dakota Families:Memorials:Photo Galleries