News and stories from days gone by, with a nod to our familiar local paper. We regularly add new old articles!
The Hessenwegen in Aalten and Bredevoort
For centuries, German merchants traveled this ancient trade route with their heavy carts.
Burials in Aalten
Until the 19th century, the deceased were primarily buried in and around the church
Traces of 1100-year-old settlement in Aalten
In 2024, traces from the 9th century AD were discovered at De Hoven.
Bredevoort Marksmen’s Guild
The Wilhelmina Markmen’s Guild plays an active role in the Bredevoort community
Aalten Marksmen’s Guild
Much remains unclear to us regarding the history of the Aalten marksmen’s guilds
Swimming and Bathing Facilities
In the past, the people of Aalten enjoyed seeking refreshment in the Slingebeek during warm
Old Aalten Bottlenecks
The village of Aalten used to have several houses that were literally ‘in the way’
Aalten made world news due to BSE
In 1996, 64,000 calves were slaughtered here due to ‘mad cow disease’.
1708 brick kiln discovered in ’t Klooster
In 1980, the remains of an old tile and brick kiln from 1708 were found
Three fires in the Willemstraat
In 1978, a home and a vacant villa burned down within a short space of
The burial vault in the Old St Helen’s Church in Aalten
In 1973, Henk Heijnen discovered a burial vault during restoration work in the Old St
Deep well rediscovered near mill in Aalten
In 1969, an old water well was discovered in Molenstraat.
Rise of the textile industry in Aalten
Textile manufacturers left a significant mark on the history of Aalten.
Aalten has big plans
The ambitious plan included, among other things, the demolition of the old Town Hall on
The Netherlands in the year 2000
In 1963, it was predicted that Aalten and Winterswijk would become one city.
Vaags Family Reunion (1960)
In 1960, members of the Vaags family from across the Netherlands gathered in Aalten.
Operation Sunshine for Annie Smees
In 1957, the bedridden Annie Smees was presented with a new little room.
Johannes Korten went to Canada
What is the state of the family, four years after their emigration in 1951?
G.J. Kaemingk, inventor of ‘electric education’
Mr. Kaemingk calls it “Elucator” (electricity + educator)
A mother remained faithful to her birthplace
American corporal visits Aalten in 1953 and speaks Achterhoeks
Miss te Slaa has not forgotten the Netherlands after 42 years in the U.S.
Wilhelmina te Slaa (1899–1981) left for the US in 1911
Kattenberg pump recalls the past
Before 1939, residents obtained their water from so-called neighbourhood pumps
Emigration in East Gelderland takes off significantly
Causes and motives why many residents of Aalten are departing for other countries
Property from camps returned after six years
Package from Neuengamme returns belongings to owner (1950).
Cowardly Act
The 19-year-old K. from IJzerlo was severely assaulted by the 21-year-old K. from Aalten.
Bredevoort, Pledged City of the House of Orange
Bredevoort has been a pledged city of the House of Orange since 1627
Returned from the Dutch East Indies
Two cousins meet on the boat after not having seen each other for 13 years.
Another exodus of Achterhoek emigrants
After WW2, many Aalten residents emigrate again, especially to Canada
Annual overview of the municipality of Aalten 1947
Encouraging activity was deployed in various fields.
H.M. the Queen pays an unexpected visit to the Achterhoek
Her Majesty remained for more than half an hour in the home of “Oome Jan”.
A letter from distant lands
In 1945, the Houwers family received a letter from a French person in hiding.
The Liberation of Aalten
On 30 March 1945, Aalten was liberated by British Grenadier and Irish Guards.
Bombardment of Kruisstraat
On 24 February 1945, bombs fell in the Kruisstraat, with disastrous consequences.
Fallschirm-Armee Waffenschule
In WW2, the occupying forces established a school for military paratroopers in Aalten.
Where are Frits and Amalia Landau?
The Jewish couple Landau were executed and buried by the resistance during WWII. But where?
‘Rotterdammertjes’ in Aalten
During World War II, Aalten took in around 800 children from bombed-out Rotterdam.
Night Watch & Constables
In 1937, G.H. Rots wrote about the ‘night watch’ and the constables in Aalten.
A burial mound in the Ringkampsbulten?
In 1932, a search was conducted in the Ringkampsbulten for Neolithic graves
German currency as a daily means of payment
Until the beginning of the 20th century, German money was the daily means of payment
Zentralverband Chr. Textilarbeiter, branch Aalten
At the beginning of the 20th century, Aalten had its own branch of a German
100 Years of Independence
In 1913, the Netherlands celebrated the centenary of its independence from the French.
Cross-border workers Aalten-Bocholt around 1900
Around 1900, hundreds of cross-border workers from Aalten worked in Bocholt
The Ecclesiastical Situation in Aalten
In 1887, the army and police had to maintain order between churchgoers
The Phoenix Disaster (1847)
At the end of 1847, dozens of residents from Oud-Aalten perished on Lake Michigan
The Lime Tree, the Coat of Arms of Aalten
For nearly two centuries, the municipality of Aalten bore a lime tree in its official
The French Period (1795–1813)
During the French period, Aalten enjoyed the blessings (?) of French rule.
Bredevoort Gunpowder Tower Disaster
On July 12, 1646, the castle’s gunpowder tower was struck by lightning.
Forced Contributions in Aalten
The population of Aalten regularly suffered from forced contributions in the past.
People from Aalten in the service of the VOC
Discover over 250 names from Aalten and Bredevoort in VOC service.
A merchant family from Aalten around 1600
How the Schenk-Voerknecht family grew into an international merchant dynasty.
The Calvary Mount at Aalten
‘Calvary Mount’ is a historical name for the highest part of the ‘Aaltense Es’
Fortified Town Bredevoort
The fortified town of Bredevoort has a history dating back to the year 945.
