The Aalten Local History Museum association managed a historical and folkloric collection from Aalten and the surrounding area from 1930 onwards. Its first exhibition space was on the upper floor above G.J.J. Degenaar’s lunchroom on Landstraat. In 1935 the association acquired its own museum building on Dijkstraat.
Purpose and development
The association collected, managed and displayed historical objects from Aalten and the surrounding area. Many items were donated or loaned by local residents. At the opening of the purpose-built museum in 1935, chairman Jos Driessen appealed for further support in the form of historical objects and financial contributions.
The collection grew quickly. By 1935 the available space was already insufficient to display everything. After the Dijkstraat museum building had to be vacated in 1956, the collection was temporarily stored elsewhere while the association searched for new premises. It later moved to the Frerikshuus and Freriksschure on Markt.
The story of the Dijkstraat museum building, its interior and the collection is described separately in Aalten Local History Museum on Dijkstraat (1935–1956).