Roman Catholic Church Dijkstraat (1859-1893)

Between the current addresses of Dijkstraat 2 and 4, there was originally a house occupied by two families. This house was presumably demolished around 1857, after which a Catholic church was built on this location in 1859. This church was destroyed by fire in 1893 and was not rebuilt. Today, a garden is located here, belonging to the former rectory.

Previously, a house occupied by two families stood at this location. In 1859, a Catholic church was built here. This church was destroyed by fire in 1893 and was not rebuilt. Today, a garden is located at this site.

Since 1800, the Roman Catholics of Aalten worshipped in a barn church in the Kerkstraat. After five decades, this church proved too small for the growing parish. During the Saint Nicholas market, which began with a church service, the attendance was sometimes so large that people attended the service outside in the bitter cold. A site for a new church was sought and found at the beginning of the Dijkstraat.

Construction of the Roman Catholic Church on the Dijkstraat (1859–1893)

Funds were raised for the construction of a church with a rectory, and on May 4, 1859, the new Waterstaatskerk was consecrated. The church stood between the current addresses Dijkstraat 2 (former RC rectory) and Dijkstraat 4 (where the Van den Dobbelsteen bakery was located until 2022).

Fire

On May 10, 1893, a fire broke out diagonally opposite the church, in houses on the Kerkstraat. The firefighters’ attention was entirely focused on extinguishing this fire. Orders were given to the firefighters, and they labored at the pumps. The wind was north-easterly, and the buildings close to the burning plots, which were downwind, were kept well-watered. However, the church, which was further away, was ignored until smoke clouds suddenly rose from the roof and tower.

The word spread from mouth to mouth: “the church is on fire.” Great consternation took hold of the population, the Catholics in particular. The church treasures had to be moved to safety, and they succeeded in doing so. The fire brigade was powerless. They had to keep the nearby plots wet, and now that the church was added to the blaze, they no longer knew how to act. It was a fantastic spectacle in the evening. The entire population of Aalten had flocked together to watch the drama unfold.

The last strikes heard from the tower clock were at half past eleven. Then the spire collapsed and a sea of sparks swirled through the sky. It was over. Nothing but ruins remained. Fortunately, the rectory was spared.

New Construction

What now? The adjacent school, to which a shed was added, was set up as a church, and means had to be sought to build a new church. The bitter pill was somewhat sweetened because the insurance was generous with the compensation. No less than approximately 26,000 guilders was paid out.

Since a new building had to be constructed anyway, a larger site was sought. This was found a little further along, on the other side of the Dijkstraat. There, the new RC church was built.

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Earlier buildings

Before the construction of the church in 1859, a house stood on this location, occupied by two families. This house was demolished around 1857 (?).

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Owners

Overview is incomplete.

Year	Plot	Owner	Description
1832	I-1243 I-1246	Berend Wevers Gerrit Jan Scholten	64 m² house & yard 133 m² house & yard

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Residents

1813

Population register 1823-1838

Population register 1838-1850

Population register 1850-1860