Your window on Aalten’s past

Much has already been written about the history of Aalten and Bredevoort. But much of this information is spread over many books, websites, PCs, photo albums and boxes in attics. On this website we collect history and make it accessible to everyone. Because Heritage belongs to all of us!

This website is a work in progress. We are constantly adding information to the website, so: good gaon and weerkomm’n (fare well and come back soon)!

Discover

Aalten Achteruit

News and stories from days gone by, with a nod to our familiar local paper.

HDZ - Setting up warp threads from bobbins

Business

Entrepreneurial Aalten: from the self-employed and small business owners to the factories of yesteryear.

Bouwhuis Wever, Kloosterdijk 9, 't Klooster (2009)

Farmsteads

This website contains information about more than 800 farms in the former municipality of Aalten.

Biographies

About the people who have played an important or notable role in our local history.

Emigration

Over the past two centuries, thousands of residents of Aalten have chosen to make a new home abroad.

Streets

Our streetscape is constantly changing. Sadly, many beautiful things have disappeared. Fortunately, we still have pictures!

House Numbering

House numbers have changed regularly over the past few centuries. We are trying to sort it all out.

Cemeteries

As well as being the final resting place for loved ones, cemeteries are also a source of information for genealogists.

Customs & Traditions

From neighbourly customs and dialect to farm life, weddings, funerals and folk beliefs in witches.

About us

Old Aalten is a private initiative and a hobby project by Remco Neerhof. It has no commercial purpose, but arose out of an interest in local history – and because many people appreciate it.

More about Old Aalten

Hotel De Roskam / Voordeman, Landstraat 13-15, Aalten

De Hozze, Bredevoort (Piet te Lintum) - Aaltensche Courant, 11-09-1936

Hulpgoederen-transport Aalten-Polen, 1981 - Inwoners van Koronowo helpen met het lossen van de vrachtwagens

Aalten, juni 1940 - Padvinders helpen bij inzameling

Contribute!

Do you have interesting information for Old Aalten? Do you have writing talent or do you want to contribute to our website or social media channels in another way? Please contact us.

How can I contribute?

On our social media channels, we share old photos, special finds, stories from the past and appeals to the public. Follow Old Aalten on Facebook and Instagram, or visit our YouTube channel for historical videos.