Sunday, July 7, 1957, was a sweltering day. Consequently, many residents of Aalten wished to take a cooling dip in the ‘t Walfort swimming pool. At the time, however, it was not permitted to open the pool on Sundays. Hundreds of residents disagreed and marched to the pool that afternoon. The youth climbed over the fence, and older residents forced entry into the pool. Moments later, the crowd dove into the refreshing water, and the hastily summoned police were powerless to intervene!
Stampede at ‘t Walfort
Nieuwe Winterswijksche Courant, July 8, 1957
Aalten possesses a beautiful natural swimming pool, ‘t Walfort. However, swimming is not permitted on Sundays. The predominantly right-wing Christian municipal council recently decided, by a majority of a few votes, that the pool must remain closed on Sundays. This decision has greatly irritated a large portion of the Aalten population, who do not share the motives behind this resolution. This irritation was further exacerbated last Sunday by the extreme heat, which created a longing for a cooling bath.
On Sunday afternoon, young and old alike flocked to ‘t Walfort in great numbers, where they initially stood before the closed gate, protesting against the municipal executive for withholding this pool from the more liberal Protestant segment of the population, as well as Catholics, Jews, etc., while it was sweltering. Soon, the youth began climbing over the pool’s enclosure, and before long, older individuals were kicking in the wooden fences to force access to the pool. Moments later, the entire crowd—numbering in the hundreds—dove into the refreshing water.
When the hastily summoned police and several board members of the pool arrived, they were faced with a fait accompli! The police could do very little; it was impossible for them to get all those people out of the water. Finally, Alderman Obbink of the Anti-Revolutionary Party (A.R.) delivered a speech, which, however, fell on deaf ears. The people simply held fundamentally different views than the municipal executive and continued swimming calmly.
After several hours of swimming, the pool board made another appeal to the swimmers: they had had their chance, and the pool had to be closed again. This appeal was successful: in a sporting manner, everyone left the pool, and shortly thereafter, Sunday rest was restored to the swimming pool. However, the municipal executive of Aalten is faced with a problem; it is now clear that, regardless of how this matter is framed on principle, a large part of the population disagrees and believes that the interference with their freedom on Sundays goes too far.
Naturally, the municipal executive made its decision to keep the swimming pool closed on Sundays based on grounds that were serious to many council members. However, Alderman Obbink promised “to look into this matter once more” for those who cannot share the Council’s fundamental considerations.
Aalten Swimming Pool remains closed on Sundays
Tubantia, July 9, 1957
At the proposal of the Mayor and Aldermen of Aalten, this body met with the board of the “‘t Walfort” swimming pool to discuss the incidents of last Sunday, when the youth of Aalten stormed the pool. The pool board indicated that it fully respects the council’s decision to keep the pool closed on Sundays and that it condemns Sunday’s actions; the latter in contrast to rumors suggesting that the pool board had cooperated with the demonstration.
The municipality will issue a serious warning during the course of this week against entering the swimming pool on Sundays. The necessary measures will be taken. We further understand that the council factions of the K.V.P., P.v.d.A., and Gemeentebelangen will not submit a new proposal to open “‘t Walfort” on Sundays this season. Since no new proposal can be expected from other parties either, it is almost certain that the pool will remain closed on Sundays this season.
Warning
Tubantia, July 11, 1957
The acting mayor of Aalten, Alderman W.B. Obbink, has announced following the demonstration that took place on and around the swimming pool on Sunday that, should the disturbances recur, they will not hesitate to take criminal measures. This publication was issued following a statement from the board of ‘t Walfort. It reads as follows: “The board of the ‘t Walfort’ bathing and swimming facility, meeting on July 8, 1957, discussed the disturbances that occurred on and around the swimming pool last Sunday. It deeply regrets this reaction to a decision that was reached in a perfectly legal manner and unanimously expresses its disapproval of this subversive conduct. It strongly urges the population, especially the youth, to respect the Council’s decision, to refrain from vandalism, and to comply with the decision in a sporting manner.”
Aalten Council revises decision
Tubantia, April 16, 1958
This coming summer, residents of Aalten will be able to go swimming in their own ‘t Walfort pool at four o’clock on warm Sunday afternoons. Last night, the municipal council decided that the pool will be open from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM on summer Sundays. A corresponding proposal, submitted on behalf of the K.V.P. and Gemeentebelangen factions, was adopted after a calm debate by 9 votes to 6.
The decision itself was not a surprise, but the relatively large majority the proposal received was. Unlike last June, when a similar proposal was rejected by 8 votes to 7, all three Christian Historical (C.H.) council members now voted in favor. The Anti-Revolutionary Party (A.R.) remained steadfastly opposed. As is well known, last summer, a few weeks after the council’s rejection, ‘t Walfort was stormed by hundreds of Aalten residents on a sweltering Sunday afternoon, after which swimming took place for several hours.
Disturbed peace of mind jeopardizes Sunday rest
Last night’s debate did not open any new perspectives. It was essentially a brief repetition of the arguments that were presented extensively and sometimes passionately on June 30 of last year. This time, the council finished its discussion within half an hour. Mr. Luiten, faction leader of the A.R., called it less than edifying that another proposal to open the swimming pool on summer Sunday afternoons has already been submitted.
If we were to make a different decision now, people might think we are giving in to opposition from the streets. He once again explained the pros and cons, admitting that mass swimming in the stream creates unacceptable conditions, but stated he did not see why, in a municipality like Aalten with its wealth of natural beauty, the swimming pool must also be open on Sundays. In his view, a piece of Sunday rest is lost because of it.
Mr. H.L. Obbink (C.H.) clarified why he would take a different position this time than last year. The events of that time proved that the peace of mind of the population can be so disturbed if the swimming pool remains closed that the Sunday rest itself could be jeopardized. This had led him to decide to revise his position. Mr. Huinink (Labor) again raised the argument of Sunday labor in the service of the police, railways, etc., which is also performed by Anti-Revolutionaries.
(“Only necessary labor,” Mr. Heinen stipulated), and called the attitude of the A.R. typically Aalten. In a municipality like Varsseveld, the situation is quite different. What was proclaimed 50 years ago no longer applies today. He believed that the Sunday rest would not be jeopardized by the opening of the swimming pool.
Not through resistance
Mr. Wijkamp (K.V.P.) stated that the irregularities of last summer were not the reason for bringing the proposal forward again; it was already certain then that another attempt would be made before the new swimming season.
After Mr. Brethouwer (C.H.) explained why he would vote in favor (“swimming in the stream at Lintelo certainly does not benefit the Sunday rest”), Mr. Heinen (A.R.) expressed his surprise at the changed attitude of Mr. Obbink and especially of the K.V.P., which a few years ago was even opposed to mixed swimming. Mr. Lurvink (K.V.P.) replied that moral welfare was certainly as important as the sanctification of the Sabbath. After brief replies, in which Mr. Wijkamp requested strict police action against swimming in the stream, the vote was taken.
After Mayor Van Veen announced the result, Mr. Ter Linde (P.v.d.A.) addressed the population over the heads of the council with a request to make appropriate use of the swimming pool and to prevent any excesses. The Mayor and Aldermen will now consult further with the swimming pool board regarding the implementation of the decision.
Sources
- Nieuwe Winterswijksche Courant, July 8, 1957 (via delpher.nl)
- Tubantia, July 9, 1957 (via delpher.nl)
- Tubantia, July 11, 1957 (via delpher.nl)
- Tubantia, April 16, 1958 (via delpher.nl)
