Ton Broos, professor emeritus of Dutch language and literature, left a lasting impact on Dutch studies at the University of Michigan. Born into a large family in the Netherlands in 1947, Broos pursued his passion for the Dutch language at the University of Amsterdam after completing his teacher's training. His academic journey began at the Royal Library in The Hague and led him to teach in Sheffield for four years.
In Ann Arbor, Broos immersed himself in the UM Library’s rich Dutch holdings, culminating in his notable doctoral thesis on Jacob Weyerman's "Lives of Dutch Painters." More than a scholar, Broos was a community builder. Alongside his late wife, Janet, he played a central role in organizing the Interdisciplinary Conference for Netherlandic Studies, significantly advancing Dutch cultural studies in North America.
Broos' extensive contributions, including exhibitions, lectures, literary translations, and interviews, established him as a key figure in Dutch studies. His 1993 course on Anne Frank and the Holocaust became one of UM’s most popular, deeply influencing countless students.
His final project, before his passing in March 2024, was preserving the UM Library's 17th-century Dutch pamphlets. He funded a conservator to digitize these documents, making them accessible online for scholars, reflecting his commitment to cultural preservation.
Together with Karla Vandersypen, Broos developed the Dutch Tract project, enriching U-M's Dutch studies offerings. His unwavering support and intellectual generosity were instrumental in expanding the university's Dutch studies collection, leaving a legacy of academic excellence and cultural preservation.