Van der Veen is a Dutch surname meaning "from the fen" or "from the swamp". It originated as a toponymic name for someone who lived near or worked in peat bogs (veen in Dutch). The name is common in the Netherlands, where it ranked 32nd in frequency (19,847 bearers in 2007). Etymology and Background The surname combines the Dutch preposition van der ("from the") with veen, referring to fen, swamp, or peat. This indicates residence in a peat district or fen colony. Peat extraction (turf digging) was vital in the Netherlands, shaping the landscape through lake formation and reclamation. In the north and west, low fen was quarried since the early Middle Ages; in the east, high bogs like the Bourtange moor were harvested into the 20th century. Surnames like Van Veen, Van de Ven, Van der Ven, Van der Venne, De Veen, and De Ven share the same origin. Cognates in English include Fenn, Vance, and Vann. Notable Bearers Notable individuals with the surname Van der Veen include: Astrid van der Veen (born 1986), Dutch pop singer; Balthasar van der Veen (1596–1660), Dutch landscape painter; Cornelis Everardus van der Veen, an 19th-century missionary; and Gerard van der Veen (1904–?), Dutch long-distance runner. The name also appears in politics and sports. Meaning: "From the swamp" Origin: Dutch Type: Toponymic Usage Regions: Netherlands