Overview
The former Public Primary School in IJzerlo, built in 1914, has a varied history. This national monument has served several purposes over the years, including as a transhipment depot and horse stable. Today the distinctive building is a private home.
Primary school
The school building had two spacious classrooms, a corridor with separate toilets for boys and girls, and a coal store. In the early 1930s a Reformed primary school opened in IJzerlo. Most children transferred to the new school, making the public school redundant.
Transhipment depot
In 1937 the municipality sold the former school building to the Co-operative Agricultural Association (CLV) in Aalten. To adapt the building for use as a transhipment depot, two windows in the front façade were altered and a loading platform was added. The platform was later removed.
Horse stable
In the early 1970s the building was sold to neighbour Gerrit Jan Doeleman, who used it to keep horses. One classroom was fitted with horse boxes, while the other contained a sand area where the horses exercised. Traces of the horses can still be seen on the windows of the former classroom, where they gnawed the window frames.
From studio to home
In the mid-1990s the building was sold to an artist, who turned it into a studio. The present residents bought the property in 1999. Although the former school was in poor condition, the original classrooms and corridor were still intact. In 2001 the building was designated a national monument. After considerable effort, permission for residential use was granted in 2005.
A three-year renovation followed in collaboration with architect Rinke ter Haar. The classrooms were largely preserved, including their high ceilings and large windows. An additional inner wall was installed for insulation and comfort, and underfloor heating was fitted. During the work, historical features came to light, including small brick walls beneath the floor that had supported the wooden floorboards, and the site of a former central stove.
On the exterior, the plaque reading “O.L.S. IJzerlo 1914” was restored. The long corridor with its original terrazzo floor, the toilets and coat hooks are reminders of the building’s school days. So too is the old school bell, which is now used to let family members know that it is time to eat.
Address history
Address directory 1934
IJzerlo 6 > 14
School building
Address directory 1967
IJzerlo 14 > Dinxperlosestraatweg 125
Owners
This overview is not complete.
| Year | Plot | Owner | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | F-1769 | Mark van Aalten | 1,360 m² school & yard |
| 1936 | F-3183 | Municipality of Aalten | 2,549 m² former school, house, yard, garden |
| 1939 | F-3323 | Co-operative Agricultural Association, Aalten | 1,309 m² warehouse, yard |
| 1974 | F-3323 | Gerrit Jan Doeleman, teacher | 1,309 m² warehouse, yard |
| 1985 | S-428 | Gerrit Jan Doeleman, teacher | 1,140 m² stable, yard |
Images
