We can`t be sure, but there is the strong likelihood that the "van Ree" refers to David having arrived in the Netherlands from Ile de Ré, the small island of the coast of France, near La Rochelle, and a Huguenot stronghold in the late 1600`s. It has been well documented that there was a strong connection between the French protestants from that area and Haarlem, including parent sending their children to Haarlem to ensure they would receive a proper protestant education in a safe environment for Calvinists. The fact that David`s son Simon would be referred to not only by his patronym "Davidse" as in "David`s son", but additionally by "Davidse van Ré" would seem to strongly support this assumption.<br>
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