Overview
The first recorded mention of a scouting association in Aalten – then referred to as padvinders (scouts) – dates from 1915. The group was led by scoutmaster C. Hagen and was affiliated with the Nederlandsche Padvindersorganisatie (NPO).
When the NPO merged in 1916 with the Nederlandsche Padvindersbond to form De Nederlandse Padvinders, Hagen remained active within the Aalten group. By August 1916, however, the Aalten branch had been dissolved and scoutmaster Hagen had requested an honourable discharge.
A scouting group was later established again. In 1937 the scouts rented an old building on Hogestraat that had been declared unfit for habitation and was popularly known as the ‘Ark van Noach’ or ‘Olde Kaste’. It was converted into a clubhouse for the new Cub Scout pack. The group already had another base at Lansbulten.
In June 1940, 500 Dutch prisoners of war returned from Germany. In preparation, a collection was organised in Aalten for blankets and eating utensils. The local scouts helped with the collection.
On 31 March 1945 a Roman Catholic scouting group was founded in Aalten. Its group headquarters was named ‘Den Esch’.
In 1946 the former bleachworks on the Slingebeek in Dale was converted into a clubhouse for the Nederlandsche Padvindersvereeniging, Aalten branch, Group I, ‘de Burchtlanciers’. The building included a hall, two rooms for Cub Scouts, a scout room, a recreation room, a Rover Scout den and a store for equipment. Donations totalling 125 guilders were received towards the building work and furnishings. The clubhouse was named ‘De Burcht’.
In 1959 the Burchtlanciers moved into a new clubhouse in the Veldhuisbosje on Haartsestraat. In the preceding years, scouting in Aalten had moved premises several times. These were often temporary locations in poor condition, leaving the group without a permanent home on a number of occasions. Thanks to the efforts of many people, a clubhouse of its own was eventually realised. The official opening was performed by Mayor E.S. van Veen.
Over the following decades Scouting Aalten developed into a thriving association. Today the group has its own log cabin on Bokkelderweg, named ‘Den Esch’.
Website: scoutingaalten.nl
Address history
Address Directory 1967
Dale 98/1 > Bokkelderweg 3
Images
