Brazil (São Paulo State)
Holambra
Some 40km northeast of Americana is the small town of Holambra, established in the nineteenth century by settlers from The Netherlands and retaining to this day a great deal of its Dutch character. Attracted by the rich farming opportunities of the São Paulo region, many Dutch emigrated here in the post-World War II years, spurred on by disastrous flooding in their own country. Their numbers were further boosted by Dutch departing from newly independent Indonesia. 
The settlement of Holambra (its name is a contraction of Holândia, América, and Brasil) was created by the arriving migrants, who bought a large, fertile fazenda and farmed co-operatively, while the new arrivals established their own farms, specializing – predictably – in the cultivation of flowers. Today’s residents like to boast that their prosperity is based on the work ethic that the immigrants brought with them. There may be something in this, but without the substantial financial investments from The Netherlands, Holambra would probably have foundered like so many foreign agricultural schemes in Brazil.

Holambra maintains a strong Dutch character, despite the arrival of non-Dutch migrants attracted by the town’s growing prosperity. To boost sales of its agricultural products and flowers (Holambra is responsible for 35 percent of flowers produced commercially in Brazil), Holambra is keen to play up its Dutch origins, and the urban centre can best be described as Dutch kitsch. Most people get around by bicycle, many of the buildings have Dutch-style facades, gardens are neatly tended and filled with flowers, while the public telephone stands are in the ludicrous shape of a giant wooden clog. The highlight of the year is Expoflora, the annual spring flower festival, which takes place on most weekends throughout September; the event attracts not only commercial buyers but also ordinary individuals drawn by the colourful displays, Dutch folk dancing, musical shows and food.

Practicalities
Holambra is located 40km north of Campinas at the Km 141 turn-off of the SP-340 Campinas to Moji-Mirim road. There are hourly bus services between Holambra and Campinas and several buses a day from São Paulo. One of the main attractions of a visit here is its restaurants. The best choice in town is Warong on Rua Campo de Pouso 607, the only restaurant in Brazil specializing in the spicy food of Indonesia. The excellent Confeitaria Martin Holandesa, Rua Doria Vasconcelos 15, serves up tea and cakes, or for something more traditionally Dutch try the Clube Holambra at Alameda Mourício de Nassau 894, a por kilo restaurant (weekends only). There are several good hotels, the most attractive being Lago do Holandês (tel & fax 019/820-1781; $35–50), which also serves Dutch food, on the outskirts of town at Avenida das Tulipas 245; at no. 57 on the same avenue is the simpler but more central Hotel Sheller (tel 019/820-1329; $20–35).