 He immigrated to the United States in 1902, heading for Grand Rapids, Michigan, a center of 19th-century Dutch immigration and Calvinism.In 1911 with his partner, Brant Sevensma, Eerdmans formed the Eerdmans–Sevensma book dealership, specializing in theological textbooks.In 1915, Sevensma left, and Eerdmans continued as sole owner of the renamed William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.