It is hard for Pieter Numan to think that it was fifty years ago that he first set foot in South Dakota — Flandreau to be precise.
The rural small town in Moody County was a long way from his home in Holland, a small but densely packed country of over 18 million people, about a quarter the size of South Dakota.
But as a kid, Numan had listened to another student share her experience as an exchange student, and that sparked something in him. He thought he might enjoy taking that same leap of faith, traveling overseas to a new home where he would live with a new family and be offered a year full of new experiences.
He applied, hoping he’d end up somewhere unique, kind, and with a family that would become an extended part of his own, allowing him the opportunity to stay connected the rest of his life.
So far, that is exactly how the experience has gone.

The first-ever foreign exchange student to come into the Flandreau Public School District, now living in Vries, Holland, returns often with his wife, Wietske. He has remained absolutely connected to his host family, the Heinemann’s, since his time here as a Flier. He also bought a home and lived part-time on the outskirts of Flandreau between 2007-2015, as he loves to hunt, fish, and spend time with his U.S. family and friends.
When he’s not in Moody County, he and Wietska said it is often that they host and travel throughout Europe with those same American family and friends.
The two, back again this fall for a class reunion and another extended stay, were happy to hear that the district continues to encourage and host students from abroad.
“I think going back and forth, having exchange students, I think both the students and the town can gain from the experience,” he said.
Numan, while here, was active in school and made a lot of friends, he worked Fridays at the furniture store in town, where Maynards is now, and used to eat often at the Corner Cafe.
He loved living on Pipestone Avenue, with Mabel Heinemann. It’s where he now stills stays when he’s back. And he enjoyed then as much as he does now, discussing how different our worlds can be.
“Learning some of their traditions from the countries they come from, and them from you. And your American culture is very different from western Europe. We are way more liberal, I think, than the average American. We can learn a lot from each other. Politically, we have a two party system here in the U.S., but in our country, I think we have 15 parties in Parliament. We don’t have a district system so if you get 15% of the votes in your country you get 15% of the seats in the house and the Senate. That’s how it works .. It’s not winner takes all.”
These days, with three grown daughters spread across Europe, Pieter and Wietske don’t visit as often. But they always look forward to returning.
“Being someplace else, a different country, to learn a different way of life. When you’re young, you think, well, not everything was good over here. But looking back, you remember the good things. I think the best thing has been the relationship with my host family, that extended family has been 50 years now. It’s hard to believe.”