Elshoekweg 6, Dale

‘Neerhof’ is an ancient farmstead located in the rural district of Dale in Aalten. Many people who carry the surname Neerhof today—including descendants of emigrants in the US and Canada—can trace their roots back to this place. There is even a Facebook group they can join: I’m a Neerhof.
The last Neerhofs to live there left the farm in the second half of the 19th century. Since then, the farm has been occupied (primarily) by the Houwers family. The original farmhouse is gone; the current house was built in 1893.
During World War II, the Houwers family sheltered people in hiding. One of these, a French non-commissioned officer from the Pyrenees, sent them a letter after the war.
Fun fact: There is a street in Canada named ‘Neerhof Lane’.
Archives
Judicial Archive of Bredevoort
Tuesday, 6 February 1616: Statholder Joannes ter Woert, assessors Jan ten Berge, Henrick Menekinck, Peter Cloeck.
Margin note: Anno 1629, 19 January, Jenneken Neerhave declared this to be redeemed. Therefore, void.
Appeared Jan Filette and Enneken Huijsinck, spouses, who declared for themselves and their heirs that for a received and well-paid sum of money, they sold a yearly pension to Juerden ten Neerhave and Jenneken, spouses, and their heirs: three dalers (per daler calculated at thirty stuivers, per stuiver at fifteen placken). Payable annually on Candlemas, first due on Candlemas 1617. Pledging as security their estate Hoff ant Benninck Vehne, along with house and yard within Bredevoort, and all their movable and immovable goods, to recover the aforementioned yearly pension along with costs and damages by distraint according to land law. With the right reserved to redeem the pension annually by giving one quarter’s notice, and then on Candlemas (Purification of Mary), fourteen days before or after without delay, by paying the sum of fifty dalers of the aforementioned currency. This ceded and issued, and renounced by hand and word; guarantee, better written deed, and confirmation promised. All under penalty of distraint as prescribed, without exception or deceit.
Wednesday, 19 February 1617: Statholder Herman van Munster, assessors Johan Nachtegaell, Herman Steinrot, Peter Evertz.
Appeared Bernt Huijninck and Enneken Snijders, spouses, who declared for themselves and their heirs that for a well-paid sum of money, by right of perpetual and irrevocable inheritance, they have transferred and sold to Joerden ten Neerhave and Jenneken, spouses, and their heirs, a piece of land, of approximately three schepelsaet, on the Aelter Ess, situated with one side bordering land now belonging to the purchaser, Mechtelt Snijders, and with the other side bordering the common road, with one end bordering Peter Martens’ land, and the other end stretching to the Barlschen Heelwech, with its appurtenances and rights, free of all encumbrances. This inherited, ceded and issued, and renounced by hand, straw, and word; guarantee, better written deed, and hereditary confirmation promised according to land law, by hypothecation of their goods. Without exception or deceit.
Saturday, 10 January 1618: Drost and Judge Gosswin van Lawick, assessors Henrick Menekinck, Jan ten Berge.
Appeared Gerrit Gijsberts, gatekeeper in Bredevoort and Mechtelt Snijders, spouses, who declared for themselves and their heirs that for a well-paid sum of money, they transferred and sold by right of perpetual and irrevocable inheritance to Joerden ten Neerhave and Jenneken, spouses, and their heirs, a piece of arable land of approximately two moldersaet, called Snijders Stucke, on the Aelter Ess, bounded on one side by the Nonhaver Cruijss plot and on the other side by land belonging to the purchaser, with one end bordering Peter Marten’s land and the other end stretching to the Barlschen wech, with its appurtenances and rights, free of all encumbrances, reserving to the Hoff ten Ahave the tenth sheaf. This inherited, ceded and issued, and renounced by hand, straw, and word; guarantee, better written deed, and hereditary confirmation promised according to land law. Without exception or deceit.
Wednesday, 29 March 1620: Statholder Herman van Munster, assessors Herman Steinrotz, Lenardt van Elverfelt, Peter Evertss.
Appeared Peter Evertz and Margareta Mächtes, spouses, who declared for themselves and their heirs that for a well-paid sum of money, they transferred and sold by right of perpetual and irrevocable inheritance to Joerden ten Neerhave and Henricke ten Ruell Geesken, spouses, and their heirs, a piece of land previously purchased from the Marcke, with its ditches, embankments, and boundaries, situated in the parish of Aalten, district of Lintell, in the Aelter Hemell, with one end stretching to the Kortbeker Maet, with its appurtenances and rights, free of all encumbrances, reserving the lord’s taxes as may be assessed upon it. This inherited, ceded and issued, and renounced by hand, straw, and word; guarantee, better written deed, and hereditary confirmation promised according to land law, by pledging the sellers’ goods. Without exception or deceit.
Appeared Willem ten Brincke and Marrie, spouses, who declared for themselves and their heirs that for a well-paid sum of money, they transferred and sold by right of perpetual and irrevocable inheritance to Joerden ten Neerhave and Jenneken, spouses, and their heirs, a piece of land of approximately one Moldergeseijs on the Aelter Esch, bounded on one side by Ebbert Wever’s land and on the other side by Geerdte Lock’s land, in its borders and boundaries, with one end stretching to the Heelwech and the other end to Hoeneper Landt, with all its old and new appurtenances and rights, free of all encumbrances. This ceded and issued, and renounced by hand, straw, and word; guarantee, better written deed, and hereditary confirmation promised according to land law, under hypothecation of the sellers’ goods. Without objection or deceit.
Verpondingskohier (Land Tax Register), 1647
Neerhof, Geestelick. Huis, hof 3 sp. voor 8 dlr. 12 – 0 -.
Boulant 10 mdr. 3de gerf 11 sch. afg. blijft 68 – 4 -.
5 Mtr. gesaeis, Jorden Neerhof, hier gaet af 1½ sch. an Kerck, blijft 4 mdr. 2½ sch. 38 – 10 – 8.
An de Kerck te Aelten 2 dlr. 3 – 0 -.
Een stuck groen lants in Lintel gelegen van 3 voeder hoij gewass of 2 koeweidens 9 – 0 -.
Liberal Gift 1748
Below is a fragment from this tax register mentioning Hendrik Neerhof and Janna Eppink, as well as their son Rosier Neerhof and his wife Beerndeken Beestman. They declared under oath that their assets amounted to 1800 and 700 guilders respectively and paid their taxes duly.
Immediately below it is noted that the couple Hindrik ter Beek and Lisebeth op den Heuvel lived ‘in Neerhofs Spikker’ (or ‘Spieker’). They possessed less than 500 guilders but evidently paid a voluntary contribution.

Owners
Overview is incomplete.
| Year | Plot | Owner | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 | C-297 | Domains | 2.160 m² house, shed & yard |
| 1876 | C-297 | Arent Jan Houwers, farmer | 2.160 m² house, shed & yard |
Residents
First known residents:
J(oe/o/ue)rden ten Neerhave (Dale – Dale < 1664)
Jenneken (Cremer?) (Dale)
J(oe/o/ue)rden was a farmer at Neerhof in 1650 (Land Tax Register, original register).
Child:
- Salike Nerhofs (Dale), married Wendel Brunsinck in Dinxperlo in 1664
Next residents:
Hendrik Neerhof (? – < 04-1697)
⚭ ca. 1654
Deve (Eva) te Gantvoort (? – > 03-1697), this was her second marriage
On 29 March 1697, Deven Neerhoff, widow of Hendrick Neerhoff, appeared before the statholder in Bredevoort with all her children “born of her first and second marriage”. The children, therefore, evidently came from two of the mother’s marriages. Who the first husband was, we do not know.
As far as is known, Deve was the only child of Thoebe te Hondorp, called Gantvoort, and Lotte te Welpshof. Deve was an heir to the Gantvoort farmstead, and thus her children were as well. The document describes how Deve and seven of her children sold their inheritance share in the Gantvoort estate to the eighth child and (half-)sister, Hendersken, and her husband, Wander Nijhof.
(Step)children:
- Hendersken Neerhof (c. 1655), ⚭ (1) 1679 Aalten Lubbert Luiten, (2) 1682 Warner Nijhof at Nijhof in Barlo
- Jenneken / Jannetie Neerhof (Bredevoort, bap. Jan. 1658 – < 1700), ⚭ 1693 Aalten Antonij ten Hietbrink, they left for Amsterdam
- Geertjen Neerhof (c. 1662), ⚭ 1684 Aalten Hendrik ter Sligt at Gantvoort in Barlo
- Derck Neerhof (Bredevoort, bap. May 1665), ⚭ 1694 Aalten Wendele in ’t Heegt
- Geert Neerhof (Aalten, bap. 04-10-1668), ⚭ 1702 Aalten Geesken Hoopmans, they left for Varsseveld
- Thobe Neerhof alias Tolkamp (Dale – Barlo, 1720/1721), ⚭ 1694 Aalten Geesken Nieuwhof at Tolkamp in Barlo
- Hendrik Neerhof alias Hondorp alias Lijsen, ⚭ 1690 Aalten Grietjen Lijsen at Liezen in Dale
- Antonij / Tonis Neerhof alias Vrieseler (Aalten, bap. 02-04-1671 – < 1760), ⚭ 1705 Bocholt Schwantgen Frieselaer (Swenneken Vrieseler), they lived at the Haesencamp in Silvolde from 1707 onwards (source)
Next residents, son and daughter in law:
Derck Neerhof (Bredevoort, bap. mei 1665)
⚭ 18-11-1694 Aalten
Wendele aan ’t Heeght (Aalten, bap. 02-12-1666)
Children:
- Hendrik Neerhof (1695 – 1763), ⚭ 1717 Janna Eppink
- Dersken Neerhof (1697 – 1719)
- Janna Neerhof (1700 – ?)
- Eva Neerhof (1697 – 1719)
- Jan Neerhof (Buunk) (1700 – 1787), ⚭ 1724 Berentje Buunk at Beunk in Lintelo
Next residents, son and daughter in law:
Hendrik Neerhof (Aalten, bap. 27-11-1695 – Dale, 25-02-1763)
⚭ 23-05-1717 Aalten
Janna Eppink (Aalten, bap. 21-11-1697 – Dale, 16-01-1787)
Children:
- Rosier Neerhof (Dale, 15-03-1719 – Aalten, 21-09-1783), ⚭ 1745 Beerndeken Beestman
- Eva Neerhof (1721 – ?)
- Jan Hendrik Neerhof (Wiggers) (1723 – 1811), ⚭ 1743 Beerndeke Wichers at Wiechers in Dale
- Willem Neerhof (1725 – < 1738)
- Mette Neerhof (1726 – ?)
- Derk Neerhof (1731 – 1811), ⚭ 1763 Elisabeth Mekkink at Mekkink in IJzerlo
- Willemina Neerhof (1733 – 1765), ⚭ 1752 Warner Weggelaar
- Gerrit Jan Neerhof (1735 – 1804), ⚭ 1767 Anna Geertruit Aarnink
- Willem Neerhof (1738 – 1775), ⚭ 1767 Hendersken Deunk
- Geert Neerhof (1741 – ?)
Next residents, son and daughter in law:
Rosier Neerhof (Dale, 15-03-1719 – Aalten, 21-09-1783)
⚭ 30-09-1745 Aalten
Beerndeken Beestman (Haart, 22-11-1722 – Aalten, 21-05-1765), d/o Jan te Beest en Willemke Stortelers
Children:
- Johanna (Janna) Neerhof (Aalten, bap. 27-11-1746 – Wisch, 04-04-1828), ⚭ 1775 Wander Eppink
- Derk Neerhof (Aalten, bap. 08-06-1749 – < 1751)
- Derk Neerhof (Aalten, bap. 16-05-1751 – Aalten, 21-03-1839), ⚭ 1785 Jenneken Meijnen
- Willemina Neerhof (Dale, 03-02-1754 – Barlo, 24-06-1814), ⚭ 1785 Willem Lankhof
- Gerritje Neerhof (Aalten, bap. 28-02-1756 – < 1759)
- Gerrit Jan Neerhof (1757)
- Gerritjen Neerhof (1759 – 1828), ⚭ 1787 Garrit Jan Houwers
- Hendrik Jan Neerhof (Aalten, bap. 04-11-1764 – Aalten, 14-01-1808), ⚭ Harmina Elferink
Next residents, son and daughter in law:
Population register 1823-1850
“Neerhof”
Derk Neerhof (Aalten, bap. 16-05-1751 – Aalten, 21-03-1839), farmer
⚭ 05-06-1785 Aalten
Jenneken Meijnen (Lichtenvoorde, bap. 28-03-1766 – Aalten, 18-04-1839)
Children:
- Berendeken Neerhof (07-11-1786)
- Reintjen Neerhof (13-12-1787)
- Barend Hendrik Neerhof (29-04-1789 – Dale, May/June 1789)
- Berendje Neerhof (05-05-1790), ⚭ 1831 Jan Hendrik Rots
- Rosier Neerhof (06-02-1792), ⚭ (1) 1821 Dela Wiggers, (2) 1825 Janna Geertruid Kleuvers
- Aleijda Neerhof (26-01-1794), ⚭ 1837 Gerrit Hendrik Ruesink > Essink
- Hendrik Jan Neerhof (08-03-1796), ⚭ 1843 Hendrika Gerritsen > De Stegge
- Berent Hendrik Neerhof (13-12-1797 – 06-04-1862), remained unmarried
- Willemina Neerhof (26-11-1799)
- Derk Willem Neerhof (19-12-1802), ⚭ 1834 Johanna ten Brinke
- Garrit Jan Neerhof (01-12-1804), ⚭ 1828 Grada te Stroete
- Willemina Neerhof (11-8-1806)
- Willem Neerhof (02-02-1810), ⚭ 1842 Engelina Heusinkveld > Krieger (Saalmans)
Population register 1850-1860
Derk Willem Neerhof (Dale, 19-12-1802 – Dale, 18-04-1856), farmer
⚭ 12-09-1834, Aalten
Johanna ten Brinke (Miste, 23-08-1811 – Dale, 23-02-1857)
Children:
- NN Neerhof (Dale, 16-11-1834), stillborn
- Roelof Neerhof (Dale, 01-12-1835 – Dale, 27-04-1856), unmarried
- Dora Harmina Neerhof (Dale, 03-10-1838 – Dale, 06-03-1855), unmarried
- Gerrit Jan Neerhof (Dale, 07-12-1841 – Dale, 17-01-1864), unmarried
- Derk Jan Neerhof (Dale, 09-07-1844 – Sheboygan/USA, 20-11-1905), ⚭ 1868 Grada Jentink
- Jan Hendrik Neerhof (Dale, 04-05-1847 – Wisconsin/USA, 16-07-1927)
- NN Neerhof (Dale, 28-03-1850), stillborn
- Hendrik Jan Neerhof (Dale, 20-05-1851 – USA, 1890)
Population register 1860-1870
- Gerrit Jan Neerhof head (Dale, 07-12-1841 – Dale, 17-01-1864), farmer
- Derk Jan Neerhof brother (Dale, 09-07-1844 – Sheboygan/USA, 20-11-1905), ⚭ 1868 Grada Jentink *
- Jan Hendrik Neerhof brother (Dale, 04-05-1847 – Wisconsin/USA, 16-07-1927) *
- Hendrik Jan Neerhof brother (Dale, 20-05-1851 – USA, 1890) *
- Berend Hendrik Neerhof oom (Aalten, 13-12-1797 – Dale, 06-04-1862)
- Berentjen Heusinkveld employed (Aalten, 31-03-1828)
- Dela Johanna Neerhof employed (Dale, 06-02-1843), daughter of Willem Neerhof and Engelina Heusinkveld at Krieger. So she is a cousin of the four aforementioned brothers *
- Janna Willemina Hengeveld employed (Dale, 06-12-1836)
- Hendrika Aleida Westerveld employed (Aalten, 27-12-1840 – 03-06-1868) *
* * They left (presumably in the spring of 1868) for Haart 19 (Lievers) and, in 1869, for America. At the same time, the newlywed Houwers couple moved from Lievers to Neerhof.
Next residents:
Arent Jan Houwers (Dale, 28-04-1824 – Dale, 28-10-1880), farmer
⚭ 02-04-1868, Aalten
Grada Aleida Ormel (De Heurne, 13-10-1843 – Dale, 12-04-1875)
Population register 1870-1880
Arent Jan Houwers (Dale, 28-04-1824 – Dale, 28-10-1880), farmer
Grada Aleida Ormel (De Heurne, 13-10-1843 – Dale, 12-04-1875)
Population register 1880-1890
Arent Jan Houwers (Dale, 28-04-1824 – 28-10-1880), farmer
Children:
- Aleida Gesina Houwers (Dale, 25-09-1868) > Dale 42 (De Heurne)
- Johanna Aleida Houwers (Dale, 27-11-1869) > Dale 42 (De Heurne)
- Jan Hendrik Wessel Houwers (Dale, 30-04-1872) > Dale 23 (Vervelde)
Following their father’s death, the three orphans were taken in by relatives on other farms (as noted below). ‘Bouwplaats Het Neerhof’ was to be let out for the time being:
The following residents came from Wisch in early 1881:
Evert Scheffer (Rheden, 23-09-1839), clog maker
Hermina Hofs (Varsseveld, 12-06-1853)
Children:
- Herman Johan Scheffer (Varsseveld, 08-03-1869)
- Dina Johanna Scheffer (Varsseveld, 09-02-1871)
- Mina Scheffer (Varsseveld, 06-07-1873)
- Grada Johanna Scheffer (Wisch, 02-07-1875)
- Hendrika Geertruida Scheffer (Dale, 07-10-1886)
- Johanna Louise Scheffer (Dale, 02-09-1888)
Population register 1890-1900
Evert Scheffer (Rheden, 23-09-1839), clog maker
Hermina Hofs (Varsseveld, 12-06-1853)
Children:
- Herman Johan Scheffer (Varsseveld, 08-03-1869)
- Dina Johanna Scheffer (Varsseveld, 09-02-1871)
- Mina Scheffer (Varsseveld, 06-07-1873)
- Grada Johanna Scheffer (Wisch, 02-07-1875)
- Hendrika Geertruida Scheffer (Dale, 07-10-1886)
- Johanna Louise Scheffer (Dale, 02-09-1888)
They left in 1890 for Dale 109 (Smees).
Next residents:
Jan Willem Westerveld hoofd (Dale, 26-11-1857), farmer
Grada Johanna te Hennepe vrouw (Heurne, 14-09-1864)
Child:
- Berend Westerveld (Aalten, 04-04-1891)
After this, J.H.W. Houwers, now an adult, returned to his childhood home:
Jan Hendrik Wessel Houwers (Dale, 30-04-1872), farmer
⚭ 27-08-1897, Borculo
Geertruida Esselink (Borculo, 02-07-1871)
Children:
- Grada Aleida Houwers (Dale, 01-08-1898)
- Gerrit Houwers (Dale, 17-09-1899), ⚭ 1926 Hanna Gesina Neerhof
Population register 1900-1910
Jan Hendrik Wessel Houwers (Dale, 30-04-1872), farmer
(1) Geertruida Esselink (Borculo, 02-07-1871 – 06-12-1902)
Children:
- Grada Aleida Houwers (Dale, 01-08-1898)
- Gerrit Houwers (Dale, 17-09-1899), ⚭ 1926 Hanna Gesina Neerhof
- Drika Gesina Houwers (Dale, 30-04-1901 – Aalten, 01-08-1902)
- Arend Jan Houwers (Dale, 06-03-1902 – Aalten, 12-07-1902)
Following Geertruida’s death, J.H.W. remarried on 27 June 1907 in Aalten to
(2) Johanna Geertruida te Bokkel (Dale, 08-10-1875)
Children:
- Geertruida Everdina Houwers (Dale, 21-06-1908)
- Grada Houwers (Dale, 06-12-1909)
Population register 1910-1920
Jan Hendrik Wessel Houwers (Dale, 30-04-1872), farmer
Johanna Geertruida te Bokkel (Dale, 08-10-1875)
Population register 1920-1930
Dale 15 > 21
Jan Hendrik Wessel Houwers (Dale, 30-04-1872)
Johanna Geertruida te Bokkel (Dale, 08-10-1875)
Children:
- Grada Aleida Houwers (Dale, 01-08-1898)
- Gerrit Houwers (Dale, 17-09-1899), ⚭ 1926 Hanna Gesina Neerhof
- Geertruida Everdina Houwers (Dale, 21-06-1908)
- Grada Houwers (Dale, 06-12-1909)
- Dina Houwers (Dale, 05-05-1911)
- Johanna Houwers (Dale, 04-02-1914)
- Jan Hendrik Wessel Houwers (Dale, 24-11-1915)
- Hendrika Houwers (Dale, 08-09-1917)
Population register 1930-1940
Dale 15 > 21
Jan Hendrik Wessel Houwers (Dale, 30-04-1872)
Johanna Geertruida te Bokkel (Dale, 08-10-1875)
Children:
- Geertruida Everdina Houwers (Dale, 21-06-1908)
- Johanna Houwers (Dale, 04-02-1914)
- Jan Hendrik Wessel Houwers (Dale, 24-11-1915)
- Hendrika Houwers (Dale, 08-09-1917)
Phone directory 1958

Address directory 1967
“Neerhof”
Dale 21 > Elshoekweg 6
Jan Hendrik Wessel Houwers (Dale, 24-11-1915)
Features
| Cadastral no. | L-1028 |
| Function | Farmhouse |
| Year of construction | 1893 |
| Listed | no |
Sources




History
In the rural district of Dale, there was once the manorial estate known as Neerhof. Here is a piece of history about ‘t Neerhof that we found in a booklet:
“When the Saxons were subjugated by the Franks and Charlemagne became the landowner, he established Frankish landholdings where the ‘schout’ or ‘scholte’—the lord’s representative—would reside. They were responsible for collecting taxes, and the Saxon farmers became subservient to the lord’s ‘hof’ (court/estate).
In every district of Aalten, we find an old, distinguished estate, all of which strongly suggest that they share the aforementioned origin. In the past, all these farmsteads were surrounded by a moat. Each farmstead is situated on the edge of an ‘es’ (es-land) in such a way that the latter extends around it, virtually in the shape of a half-moon, so that the ‘Hof’ forms the centre. This indicates that the large-scale cultivation of the essen must have originated from the ‘Hof’ and was continued progressively further outwards.
The Aaltense Es is, in fact, the es of the district of Dale (= low-lying area). It lies within a semi-circle with a radius of approximately two kilometres around the Havezathe (manor house) De Pol, with the latter as its centre point.
A remarkable circumstance now arises in that we still find two adjacent estates in Dale called ‘Nonhof’ and ‘Neerhof’. Both farmsteads lie quite a distance from the Ahof ‘De Pol’, but this is clear if we take into account the location and extent of Dale; these farmsteads could easily occupy their positions in the lower-lying west of Dale. It is said that brothers and sisters of an order may also have lived here.
In the past, the Neerhof and Nonhof estates belonged to the St. Antonie vicarage, which was established in the Aalten Church. Later, they became domains of the sovereign.
According to some, the name is derived from ‘d’n Heerhof’, which merged into ‘de Neerhof’.
At the beginning of the 17th century, we also encounter the spelling ‘Neerhave’.







