de Vries is one of the most surnames in Holland. It literally means "from Frisia (the modern day dutch province of Friesland)".
So Peter de Vries is effectively the dutch equivalent of John Smith.
I guess, though John Smith would more literally be Jan Smit, and the surname de Vries might be a name more like North or York.
I guess, though John Smith would more literally be Jan Smit, and the surname de Vries might be a name more like North or York.