Category: Border

Border Office & Tram Station Heurne

Hamelandroute 91, Heurne (vanished)

In 1859, the border office in the Aalten Heurne was moved from the Bodendijk (now Kiefteweg) to the former Bocholtscheweg, the current Hamelandroute. This was the building on the left in the photo above.

Tram and marechaussee

In 1910, a station for the steam tram on the Bocholt-Aalten-Lichtenvoorde line was erected next to the border office (the building with the veranda, on the right in the photo above). In 1932, this tram station was converted into a marechaussee barracks. In the late 1930s, the marechaussee moved to a new barracks on the Ringweg. The former tram station was converted into a border office. Around 1960, the ‘new’ border office was stripped of its characteristic veranda.

Border Office

In the mid-1970s, the old border office from 1859 was demolished. Subsequently, a modern single-storey office was built on the same site. After this new building was completed, the former tram station was also demolished.

It was a busy border crossing. The customs post was manned 24 hours a day. During peak periods, fifty to sixty customs officers sometimes worked there. Following the establishment of the Schengen Agreement, the customs post was permanently closed on December 31, 1992. The office remained in use for years afterward by various small businesses. It was demolished in 2024.

Features

Cadastral no.	R-689

Old border office
Function	Border Office
Year of construction	1859
Demolition	ca. 1975

Old tram station
Functions	Tram station, Marechaussee barracks, Border office
Year of construction	1910
Renovation	1932 and 1939
Demolition	ca. 1975

Photo album

Newspaper reports

Owners

This overview is incomplete.

Year	Plot	Owner	Description
1861	E-1287	State Domains	180 m² house, yard
1883	E-1287 E-1288 E-1289	The State	180 m² house, yard (Heurne 18) 510 m² house, yard (Heurne 19) 180 m² house, yard (Heurne 20)
1911	E-2282	The State	1,950 m² tram station, arable land, heath & pines
1933	E-2282	The State	1,950 m² ~~tram station~~, national office, arable land, heath & pines
1965	E-2603	The State	1,837 m² national office, house, arable land
1985	R-264	The State	9.660 m² building, yard

Residents

Population register 1860-1870

Heurne 15a

Willem Baerts (The Hague, 07-01-1832), collector
Frederica Jacomina Johanna Jacoba Cats (Groede, 08-26-1836)

Subsequent residents (1862-1874):

Gerrit Jan van Soest (Tiel, 11-05-1802), national collector
Agatha Margaretha Woudenberg (Boxtel, 11-05-1809)

Heurne 15b

Cornelus Johannes Josias Morin (Venlo, 12-10-1819), clerk
Geertruida van Heel (Nijmegen, 12-24-1833)

Next residents:

Jan Xavier Hoff (Clemency/L, 11-04-1807), clerk
Lotta Antonetta Alberdina van der Beesten (Maasweil, 08-24-1836)

Next residents:

Jan Poppe Terweel (Blesse, 06-24-1828), clerk
Anna Sophia Jacoba Zintgraaf (Amsterdam, 11-12-1832)

Population register 1870-1880

Heurne 18

Gerrit Jan van Soest (Tiel, 11-05-1802), national collector
Agatha Margaretha Woudenberg (Boxtel, 11-05-1809)

Subsequent residents (1874):

Franciscus van de Voort (Hunsel, 05-10-1832), clerk collector
Barbara Hentjens (Landeken, 09-12-1835)

Subsequent residents (1874-1881):

Adrianus van der Kruk (The Hague, 03-05-1821), collector
Hendrika Willemina Meijer (Zutphen, 07-25-1812)

Heurne 19

Paulus Zijser (The Hague, 12-28-1836), clerk
Theodora Cornelia Janssen (Aardenburg, 05-10-1846)

Subsequent resident (1873-1874):

Hendrik Matthijs Hubert Bruls (Orsbeek, 12-02-1847), clerk

Subsequent residents (1870-1871):

Mattheus van Kooij (Wijhe, 10-28-1840), clerk
Berendina Remmiggina Hoetjen (Deventer, 05-15-1838)

Subsequent residents (1871-1873):

Antonius Höfkens (Nijmegen, 03-26-1837), clerk
Wilhelmina Jacoba Huberta Huibers (Nijmegen, 07-19-1843)

Heurne 20

Jan Poppe Terweel (Blesse, 06-24-1828), clerk
Anna Sophia Jacoba Zintgraaf (Amsterdam, 11-12-1832)

Subsequent residents (1870):

Adriaan Arnold den Hartogh (Budel, 04-13-1843), clerk

Subsequent residents (1870-1873):

Johannes Hendrikus Krijlen (Nijmegen, 06-26-1835), official
Johanna Hermina Buijnink (Lichtenvoorde, 10-23-1843)

Subsequent residents (1872-1873):

Herman Lodewijk Joseph de Leur (Well, 04-11-1849), clerk

Subsequent residents (1876-1877):

Heurne 20

Hermanus Franciscus Wolfs (Maastricht, 11-22-1841), national official
Gerritjen Boland (Wisch, 10-20-1841)

Subsequent residents (-1880):

Gerard Herman Filet (Amsterdam, 12-08-1842), national official
Berendina Neerhof (Aalten, 08-21-1855)

Heurne 20

Johannes Matheus Sluijtman (Nijmegen, 07-31-1832), clerk
Petronella Barnauw (Nijmegen, 05-29-1830)

Population register 1880-1890

Heurne 18

Adrianus van der Kruk (The Hague, 03-05-1821), national collector
Hendrika Willemina Meijer (Zutphen, 07-25-1812)

Subsequent residents (1881-1893):

Casper Hendrik Klinge (Amsterdam, 06-17-1828), national collector
Johanna Wilhelmina Burgers (Den Helder, 03-19-1843)

Heurne 19

Gerard Herman Filet (Amsterdam, 12-08-1842), national official
Berendina Neerhof (Aalten, 08-21-1855)

Next residents:

Jan Langendoen (Oudenhoorn, 04-10-1850), national official

Next residents:

Hendrik Gerrit te Vaanholt (Exel, 11-08-1851), national official
Reintjen Toorneman (Bathmen, 03-08-1850)

Next residents:

Johannes Idarus Dorgelo (Den Ham, 02-01-1859), clerk at National Taxes
Geertruida Willemina Toebes (Winterswijk, 11-14-1861)

Heurne 20

Johannes Matheus Sluijtman (Nijmegen, 07-31-1832), national official
Petronella Barnauw (Nijmegen, 05-29-1830)

Subsequent residents (1880):

Benjamin Driessen (Aalten, 05-19-1853), clerk

Subsequent residents (1880):

Johannes Josephus Blomesath (Aalten, 07-27-1850), clerk
Maria Hendrika Willemina Vultink (Aalten, 09-08-1855)

Subsequent residents (1888):

Jan Bloten (Ommen, 06-02-1856), clerk
Mina Aleida Weggelaar (Bredevoort, 12-17-1859)

Subsequent residents (1889):

Herman Neeuwveld (Diepenveen, 11-27-1857), clerk
Petronella Geertruida Catharina van Heuven (Angerlo, 06-11-1862)

Next residents:

Heurne 20

Hendrik Godron (Appeltern, 09-27-1855), clerk
Elisabeth Hendrina Haertzdorf (Aerdt, 02-26-1863)

Population register 1890-1900

Heurne 20

Casper Hendrik Klinge (Amsterdam, 06-17-1828), clerk collector
Johanna Wilhelmina Burgers (Den Helder, 03-19-1843)

Subsequent residents (1894-1895):

Henri Hubert Maes (Ixelles/B, 03-04-1841), clerk collector
Susanna Frederika Muller (Lobith, 08-03-1851)

Subsequent residents (1895-1897):

Jan Roemeling (Winschoten, 11-24-1848), clerk collector
Hindertje Wiertsema (Nieuweschans, 08-08-1855)

Subsequent residents (1897-1907):

Teije Jacobus Aukes (Vledder, 02-11-1843), clerk collector
Geertruida Georgina Becht (Bergen op Zoom, 12-15-1845)

Heurne 21

Johannes Idarus Dorgelo (Den Ham, 02-01-1859), clerk
Geertruida Willemina Toebes (Winterswijk, 11-14-1861)

Next residents:

Berend van Klinken (Onstwedde, 10-25-1854), clerk
Geessien Toorman (Nieuwe Pekela, 12-09-1857)

Next residents:

Pieter van Goor (Zuidwolde, 02-22-1865), clerk
Wilhelmina Magdalena Spekking (Bijland, 11-09-1865)

Next residents:

Eiko Harmen van Driessen (Zwolle, 01-13-1845), clerk
Grada Johanna Vaags (Aalten, 04-27-1857)

Heurne 22

Hendrik Godron (Appeltern, 09-27-1855), clerk
Elisabeth Hendrina Haertzdorf (Aerdt, 02-26-1863)

Albert van der Werf (Texel, 07-29-1864), clerk
Anna van der Wiele (Den Helder, 03-30-1867)

Johannes Cornelis Janknegt (Rotterdam, 09-16-1859), national official
Hetje Kasander (Gorinchem, 04-05-1869)

Berend Jan Broekhuizen (Lochem, 09-19-1869), clerk
Johanna Maria Albers (Aalten, 03-01-1869)

Population register 1900-1910

Heurne 29

Teije Jacobus Aukes (Vledder, 02-11-1843), clerk collector
Geertruida Georgina Becht (Bergen op Zoom, 12-15-1845)

Subsequent residents (1907-1908):

Heurne 46 > 33

Klaas Jans Smeding (Oostdongeradeel, 07-06-1855), clerk collector
Grietje Luitjen Feensma (Schiermonnikoog, 09-23-1865)

Subsequent residents (1909-1911):

Johannes Jacobus Brauers (Middelburg, 01-27-1853), clerk collector
Elisabeth Jongepier (Middelburg, 11-22-1847)

Subsequent residents (1911-1921):

Heurne 29a

Eiko Harmen van Driessen (Zwolle, 01-13-1845), clerk
Grada Johanna Vaags (Aalten, 04-27-1857)

Next residents:

Johannes Albertus Schrijver (Hellevoetsluis, 07-01-1872), clerk
Susanna Hendrikse (Woudenberg, 01-29-1867)

Next residents:

Wilhelmus Theodorus ter Beek (Rheden, 01-20-1876), national official

Next residents:

Jacob Weijenberg (Apeldoorn, 02-26-1877), clerk
Heintje Lieferink (Lochem, 12-18-1879)

Heurne 29b

Berend Jan Broekhuizen (Lochem, 09-19-1869), clerk
Johanna Maria Albers (Aalten, 03-01-1869)

Adam Kersten (Beilen, 10-12-1869), national official
Johanna Gertruida Maatjes (Hoogeveen, 09-19-1871)

Paulus Datema (Leeuwarden, 10-25-1875), clerk
Doumina Graalman (Borger Compagnie, 10-05-1875)

Willem van Hoboken (Hellevoetsluis, 04-08-1878), national official
Barbara Johanna Harmina van der Moolen (Arnhem, 05-27-1878)

Heurne 46b > 32

Willem van Hoboken (Hellevoetsluis, 04-08-1878), national official
Barbara Johanna Harmina van der Moolen (Arnhem, 05-27-1878)

Population register 1910-1920

Heurne 33 > 40

Benjamin Driessen (Aalten, 05-19-1853), clerk collector
Johanna Prinsen (Aalten, 07-16-1855)

Heurne 40 is no (longer) mentioned.

Heurne 32

Willem van Hoboken (Hellevoetsluis, 04-08-1878), national official
Barbara Johanna Harmina van der Moolen (Arnhem, 05-27-1878)

Subsequent residents (1911-1913):

Heurne 32

Hendrik Wessels (Tholen, 03-12-1880), national official
Mijntje van Beerschoten (Maartensdijk, 05-22-1878)

Next residents:

Heurne 32 > 38

Bernardus Jacobus de Vries (Dalen, 01-05-1881), national official
Klazina Klein (Avereest, 12-16-1884)

Population register 1920-1930

Heurne 38

Albert Kerbof (Termunterzijl, 01-21-1893)
Elizabeth de Vries (Lekkerkerk, 05-11-1890)

Address directory 1934

Heurne 39a > 61

Marechaussee barracks

Heurne 39 > 61a

H. de Wilde

Heurne 38 > 62

A. Kerbof

Address directory 1967

Heurne 61 > Hamelandroute 91

Border Office

Sources

26 March 2023

Kesenbult (Boundary Stone 171)
Kiefteweg / Veenhuisweg, Heurne
Photo: Remco Neerhof

The Kesenbult is a small hill at the end of the Kiefteweg, near the green border crossing between the Netherlands and Germany. Atop the hill stands a centuries-old boundary stone, crafted from Bentheim sandstone. The stone bears the coats of arms of Guelders and Münster, the year 1766, and the number 171. It has thus marked a formerly important border crossing for more than 250 years.

Trade route and border crossing

In the 18th century, the Kiefteweg – which used to be called Bodendijk – formed part of the trade route between the Duchy of Guelders and the Bishopric of Münster. Not only commercial travellers passed through here, but also royal couriers, or messengers (boden). The name Bodendijk refers to these couriers.

Cross Chapel

In addition to trade and transit, the Kesenbult also played a role in religious life. During the period of Calvinism (1675–1799), when Catholic worship was banned in the Dutch Republic, Catholics from Aalten and Bredevoort crossed the border here.

Some two hundred metres across the border stood the Cross Chapel (Kruiskapel), built in 1675 on the Reyerding estate by order of the Bishop of Münster, Bernhard van Galen (popularly known as Bommen Berend). The timber, octagonal chapel became the religious focal point for exiled Catholics.

According to tradition, worshippers travelled to the chapel in workwear and carrying their tools, so as not to be recognised as churchgoers.

Present-day significance

The Cross Chapel has since vanished, but the boundary stone on the Kesenbult remains. It serves as a reminder of centuries of trade, religion, and border traffic between Aalten and the Münsterland. As such, the Kesenbult still forms a tangible symbol of the shared history on both sides of the border.
Features

Cadastral no. R-426
Function Boundary stone
Year of construction 1766
Listed National monument

Sources

Cadastral map

(Click to enlarge)
22 October 2021
Wandering Along the Border
NRC Handelsblad, 11 August 1986

A new wandering editor encounters remnants of Achterhoek nationalism.

Villa ‘Beekhuize’, Aalten

By HENRI BEUNDERS — “The world ended at Arnhem! Long after we came to live here in 1969, friends who called to say they wanted to visit us would ask: ‘Can we bring anything for you?’” Mrs. Pruim says it with a mocking smile, but an indignation that has still not faded shines through.

For two months now, she and her husband—once a lawyer in The Hague and for many years a subdistrict judge in Terborg—have been running a guesthouse in their grand 1826 building “Beekhuize” in Aalten. They never want to return to the west. “The people of the Achterhoek are very tolerant, warm, and hospitable. Here, many cases end in a settlement,” says Pruim while serving breakfast.

Is the IJssel a greater barrier than the national border they live so close to? Anyone walking through the Heelweg in Dinxperlo for a while—left sidewalk Netherlands, right sidewalk Germany—would almost think so. People walk, cycle, and shop across the border as if it does not exist. Mrs. Pruim gets her small breakfast rolls in Bocholt. The customs officers hardly even come out of their booths for the passers-by anymore.

The subdistrict judge therefore never has to deal with border problems. “Well, never—recently a trunk had to be opened. There was a woman inside. ‘I always lie in the trunk when I go out for a drive with my husband,’ she had said. She simply didn’t have a passport. She certainly got a fine for that.”

Backward

However, people in Aalten do not have much regard for the Germans. The exchange of information does not amount to much. In Aalten, an advertising flyer from Bocholt drops through the letterbox; in the “Grenspost” corner, De Graafschapbode reports that the Anholt windmill has sails again. Whether this is because Aalten is Protestant-Reformed and Münsterland is Catholic? No one knows. Perhaps, as some Aalteners believe, it is the mentality reflected, for example, in the placard the Germans hung at the Heurne-Aalten border crossing before the football final in Mexico: “Jetzt betreten Sie das Land des Weltmeisters”. A Dutch customs official gleefully recounts how they were quick to scribble the word “vice” in between afterwards. “Everyone thought it was wonderful that they had lost.”

Except for those from the west, the IJssel also remains a border to another world for many residents of the Achterhoek. The appreciation for that other world has changed significantly lately. “In the past, everything that came from the west was beautiful. Without three apartment blocks, you were considered a backward village. Because of that, much beauty was destroyed,” Mrs. Pruim believes. That time seems to be over. The wave of nostalgia that hit the banks of the IJssel after the storm surge of modernization managed to save some old beauties just in time. Driving around here, you see how people everywhere are busy relaying winding and sloping streets with cobblestones in the village centers, and how the cultural regional renaissance is in full swing.

“We’ll put barbed wire by the IJssel. The people from the west aren’t coming in anymore!” Little more is heard from the Achterhoek “Nationalists” who uttered this threatening language a few years ago—it was the breeding ground for the success of the pop group Normaal. At the harvest festival in De Heurne, a hamlet between Aalten and Dinxperlo, an occasional individual nevertheless walks around with a “paspoart” issued by the Road voor Achterhooks Belang in their pocket. But for most, this disguised sense of inferiority seems to have long since given way to a firmly anchored pride in their own identity.

In the maize landscape, half a hectare of rye has been grown on the small field for demonstrations of mowing with a scythe, binding sheaves, flail threshing, plowing, and harrowing. People laugh and make jokes when even some elderly farmers appear to have almost forgotten these old techniques. Only the hands of the basket and cap maker still move quickly and routinely; they never gave up their craft. The countless telephoto lenses, video, and Super-8 cameras with which the more than 1,500 locals and tourists are filming each other suggest that the harvest festival in De Heurne is already in the dubious transition phase from genuine folk fun to tourist attraction.

Klootschieten

“One must watch out better when a throw is made, because a kloot can hit hard.” (Photo NRC Handelsblad/Vincent Mentzel)

Searching for an expression of revived folklore not yet discovered by the masses, one of the countless colorful tree posters (fair, motocross, variety show—you name it, it’s announced on a beech or oak) points to the border south of Winterswijk. There, almost the entire rural district, more than 80 men, women, and children, has turned out to participate in the klootschieten competitions.

Two teams of 5 or 6 members each try to complete the four-kilometer course through the beautiful ‘bocage landscape’ between Woold, Kotten, and Achterwoold in as few shots as possible. It is not difficult to see why ”t aole spel’ (the old game) is regaining popularity so quickly.

Anyone who can throw can play klootschieten. A rake is placed across the road, one takes a short run-up to that point, and throws the wooden, lead-weighted ‘tennis ball’ of about half a kilogram as far as possible down the street. The others run after it shouting “Astubleef” (if you please); one cheers over his throw of at least 80 meters. “You’re just throwing your hat at it,” calls another who has to search for his predecessor’s kloot in the maize on the other side of the ditch.

At the Esselinkhaar farm, the thermoses are ready on a kitchen table. They are halfway through, time for a break. Organizer Massop of the Winterswijk Klootschieters Association addresses the enthusiastic but inexperienced newcomers warningly once more. “This course is insured, but one must watch out better when a throw is made, because a kloot can hit hard.” As proof, he shows his shin where six months ago a kloot, bouncing over this same stretch of brick road, slammed into it. He is still troubled by it. That is why only coffee is served. “In the past, it was ‘boozing and more boozing,’ which invariably led to trouble.” That was also, he explains, the reason why this cheap entertainment of the ‘common folk’ was often banned in the past.

The fact that the word has since mainly provoked laughter—“there’s no balls to it” the subdistrict judge had assured—no longer bothers Massop. “It is a serious sport. Our federation therefore refused to give in to the Dutch Sports Federation, which wanted us to call it ‘shot put’.” And he presses a flyer and a sticker into one’s hand. ‘Klootschieters do it on the road’. Next year, the national championships, in the cradle of Twente, will be held in the Achterhoek for the first time. For the Kotten border residents, it is primarily a Sunday game. “The weather is nice, you see each other again, it’s sociable,” says one of the women serving coffee. “Next week we have horse teams here.”

Tyrolean Evening

The small amount of alcohol is more than made up for in the evening at the Tyrolean evening organized by the Winterswijk branch of “Jong Gelre” at camping Nieuw Beusink. A good 40 barrels of Grolsch, 200 glasses per barrel, have been brought in for the expected 800 visitors. People sit at long tables, they dance, they drink, the noise gradually swells, but it remains convivial. The Grensland Muzikanten play the Egerländer music by Ernst Mosch that is so popular here. Young and old dance to it. The Achterhoek formation Free Sense plays something more modern and louder for the second half of the evening. Shortly after midnight, the group starts Bob Marley’s “Stir It Up”. “The beer is gone! Oh, how I’m gutted, the beer is gone,” the singer sings. A normal summer weekend along the Achterhoek border is over.

“One must watch out better when a throw is made, because a kloot can hit hard.” (Photo NRC Handelsblad/Vincent Mentzel)
Source
- Delpher
11 August 1986
Unrest in Aalten
Dagblad Tubantia, 6 January 1950

German workers received a pound of coffee for Christmas; Dutch staff later received a rixdollar…

While one of the German girls employed at a textile factory in Aalten was recently the cause of a sensational incident (she defaced the Dutch flag with a swastika), German textile workers in Aalten have once again been the catalyst for an event that has caused quite a stir in the quiet village, as two textile factories were involved.

Sixteen German girls are employed at a textile factory in Dijkstraat. As Christmas approached, they began to ponder a surprise they could provide for their relatives across the border. It had to be coffee, was the general opinion!

Girls at work at the Driessen textile factory, Hofstraat. Photo for illustrative purposes.

The German girls enlisted the help of a staff member from Aalten, who knew just how to manage it. He, in turn, went to a businessman who proved able and willing to supply 16 pounds of coffee—one pound for each of the German girls. That evening, the girls cheerfully headed home by bus with their coffee. However, on that same bus were 19 female workers from a textile factory in Hofstraat.

Understandably, they were none too pleased that their friends could take coffee home for “Weihnachten” while they could not. The matter was promptly raised the following day with the management in Hofstraat. They felt they could do little else but promise each of their German workers a pound of coffee as well. And the 19 pounds of coffee indeed materialised.

But the difficulties did not end there! The Dutch staff had caught wind of the Christmas gift and now began to demand coffee too. After all, coffee is an item that has been very scarce in this country of late. The management of the Hofstraat factory restored industrial peace by giving every staff member a bonus of ƒ2.50. With that, the whole matter seemed to be settled.

However, with so many people involved, it was almost inevitable that the police and the C.C.D. (Central Investigation Service) would hear of the case. The latter has since launched an investigation, which has already led to an official report (proces-verbaal) being filed against the management of the textile factory in Hofstraat. A second report followed for the granting of a bonus without the permission of the Board of Government Mediators. An official report has also been filed against the shopkeeper involved.

We understand that the reason the German girls were able to export the coffee is that the Dutch customs, contrary to standing orders, allowed the coffee to pass; it was apparently assumed that it could be exported freely as long as its value was below ƒ15. The German customs had already promised the German girls that they would make an exception in view of the approaching Christmas holiday.
Source
- Dagblad Tubantia, 6 January 1950 (Delpher)
6 January 1950
A Border Incident
A Smuggler Shot

This morning, on the German border near the Kruiskapelle, on the small road leading from Bauhuis to Germany, an encounter took place between German customs officers and smugglers. A customs officer, emerging from a forest, fired several consecutive shots at a German who was fleeing by bicycle toward Holland, with the result that, when he was approximately 10 m onto Dutch territory, he collapsed with two gunshot wounds to the chest.

According to the statement of the eyewitness, shopkeeper Bauhuis, the customs officer must still have been shooting when the smuggler was already on Dutch territory. If this is the case, and the statement is very pertinent, it signifies an instance of border violation that will likely have further consequences.

The Eyewitness’s Story

When we asked Bauhuis about the circumstances of the case, he informed us of the following:

Around 7 o’clock this morning, three German smugglers headed toward the German border. Just as they were briefly on German territory, a young German customs officer emerged from a forest and attempted to detain the smugglers. Two of them fled toward Germany, one toward Holland. The latter was pursued by the customs officer.

During this pursuit, he fired about twenty shots, even when the fugitive had already arrived on Dutch territory. When he had crossed the border by approximately 10 meters, he collapsed, hit in two places on the right side of the chest by revolver bullets.

His statement was firm that shots had been fired at the smuggler who was already on Dutch territory. He was also of the opinion that the customs officer, a very young man who had presumably arrived only recently, did not know exactly where the border lay at that location.

When the man was shot, Bauhuis stated, I was under the impression that he was going to die soon, and since I would rather not have him in the house, I made him a bed of straw on German territory, where we laid him down. I should not have done that, because later the German police took custody of him and transported him to the hospital in Wesel.

This naturally complicates the investigation from the Dutch side, as it is no longer possible to determine exactly what the situation was when the man fell.

Meanwhile, a different explanation is being given from the German side. The matter is being investigated. The leadership of this is in the hands of the detachment commander of the Marechaussee here, Sergeant G. v. Buren. During the initial investigation, the acting Mayor, Alderman F.H. Somsen, was present at the scene.
Source
- Delpher
18 September 1931
Refugees in Aalten during WW I
During the First World War, Aalten offered shelter to many foreign refugees.

It was 28 July 1914 when the First World War broke out. Two days later, the Netherlands declared its neutrality. As a result, we were spared the great horrors of this war. However, the Netherlands soon faced an entirely different problem: refugees. Many escaped prisoners of war, deserters, and civilians arrived from the surrounding countries to find a safe haven here. This was also the case in Aalten.

Newspaper reports

“Italian refugees. In Aalten, the Rectory and the minister’s residence of the Christian Reformed congregation have been made available for several Italian families who have fled from Germany.”
Het Vaderland, May 22, 1915

“We are informed from the Eastern border: That it is not yet so very easy for escaped prisoners of war to cross the border may be evident from the fact that the Feldwebel, serving at the rural district of Kotten on the border of the municipality of Winterswijk, reported that in the last few weeks no fewer than 70 refugees were detained in the border strip located along the municipalities of Winterswijk and Aalten. Nevertheless, during that time, approximately 20 prisoners of war—French, Russians, Belgians, and also an Englishman—arrived on Dutch territory in that area.”
Arnhemsche Courant, March 25, 1916

“The stream continues. In Aalten, two Austrian and one German deserter crossed the border on Tuesday.”
Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, September 1, 1916

“Aalten, 29 Dec. The number of refugees, prisoners of war, deserters and civilians who have arrived here across the border in recent days is very large. No less than 25 Russians arrived here who had worked in the coal mines in Germany. All were transported to Rotterdam. In addition, 17 Poles, two of whom had their wives and children with them. They had come from Courland and had worked in the mines for a wage of 9 to 10 marks a day; The poor diet had forced them to move to our country. They had had a very difficult journey. Furthermore, 4 deserters and 1 escaped French prisoner of war arrived. On Wednesday another French prisoner of war arrived here, who had escaped with two others from a prison camp in Germany. One of them was shot before he reached the border, and the other wounded and taken prisoner. Yesterday afternoon two more Russians and a German deserter arrived and this morning another German deserter reported to the border guard.”
Zutphensche Courant, 30 December 1916

“Saturday evening and Sunday morning, 9 Russian Poles, a Belgian, and a Russian cavalry non-commissioned officer crossed the border at Aalten.”
Het Nieuws van den Dag, January 16, 1917

“In Aalten, a German deserter with his wife, two children, and a servant crossed the border and departed for Amsterdam on Monday. The wife was born in Argentina.”
Het Nieuws van den Dag, January 23, 1917

“In recent days, many more refugees and deserters have crossed our border. In Aalten, 15 Russians arrived yesterday morning, having escaped from German captivity.”
Provinciale Overijsselsche en Zwolsche Courant, January 26, 1917

“In Aalten, three German deserters and three French servicemen who had escaped from the camp at Muhlheim crossed the border on Sunday. Among this group of six was the guard of the aforementioned camp, who had acted as a guide for the refugees.”
Het Nieuws van den Dag, November 20, 1917

“In Aalten, two French prisoners of war crossed the border on Saturday. They had escaped from a camp at Friedrichsfeld.”
Het Nieuws van den Dag, June 10, 1918

“Today, Friday, the following were expected here from Winterswijk: 316 French, 22 Belgian, and 2 Italian prisoners of war.”
Aaltensche Courant, November 29, 1918

French refugees in the Festival Hall

Towards the end of WW I, a second wave of refugees started from northern France, mainly of French, but also Belgian citizens.

Friday, September 27, 1918 – In northern France, the German occupying forces had called on the population of some 250 towns and villages, which were located between the Hindenburg Line established by the Germans and the border with Belgium, to leave their homes. Heavy fighting was expected now that the Allies pushed the Germans back towards Belgium, so it would be better to evacuate the region. Those who responded to the call often traveled on foot through occupied Belgium, taking their meager possessions with them. The Netherlands had promised to provide temporary shelter to a large group.

Saturday, October 26, 1918 – Arnhem was a place of passage for French refugees. At 18:00, 350 refugees arrived here. They would be transferred to Borculo, Groenlo and Aalten the next day. On Sunday evening, another 800 to 900 refugees arrived, who would go to various places in Gelderland on Monday. Members of a certain group wore bands of the same color around their arm as a distinguishing sign.

Sunday, October 27, 1918 – It was a turbulent Sunday for the normally quiet Aalten. On Saturday, the mayor had received word that a large number of refugees, both men and women, were to be accommodated in his municipality, as in other places in Gelderland. A meeting of the Committee for the Aid of Refugees, established in 1914, was hastily convened. It was decided that the men would be housed in the Elim building and the women and children in the Community Hall. Furthermore, the necessary measures were taken to provide the refugees with food and drink.

Sunday afternoon 13.00 hours a large crowd of people had gathered at the station . The members of the fire brigade were on the platform to provide the necessary assistance in transferring the guests. It was a long train that transported not only Aalten but also a hundred refugees for Winterswijk and Groenlo. The supervisor, a merchant from Antwerp, got out and invited the 108 men he accompanied to follow his example. Groups of four lined up, the luggage was loaded onto a truck, and so the procession, surrounded by a large crowd, made its way to the Festival Hall.

Feestgebouw, (Festival Hall), Aalten

Salle Maréchal Foch

The Community Hall was renamed ‘Salle Maréchal Foch‘ for the occasion, after France’s renowned commander-in-chief.

Everything here was neatly arranged as a sleeping place for the strangers. Long tables were placed, where meals could take place. On a table were jugs of the fire brigade, which could serve as a washing set. Some refugees were so tired that they immediately lay down on their army bed of straw. No wonder, because they had all walked from Lille or Tourcoing to Brussels the week before. In the Belgian capital they were actually destined for German service, but through a ruse – most of them had a false pass – they, with thousands of others, managed to cross the Dutch border.

After the guests had refreshed themselves with coffee and bread, their names were recorded with place of residence and profession. There were: a stationmaster and two teachers, the three of whom were appointed as the regulation committee, to whom the refugees could turn with requests and complaints.

“Réfugiés Français et Belges, Salle Maréchal Foch, Aalten (Hollande), 22-11-1918”

Of course, many of them felt the need to let their relatives know that they were safe and sound in the hospitable Netherlands. That is why paper and ink were made available to them, while the gentlemen Johs. Driessen and Jongen made sure that they could exchange their foreign currency for Dutch money. Thanks to the action of the committee, under the excellent leadership of Ms. Hesselink could be served lunch at 18:00, which the French enjoyed.

Certain measures had been taken to maintain order. For example, everyone had to be inside at 21:00 in the evening and the cafes were not allowed to serve them liquor.

According to the supervisor, the refugees would not stay longer than 14 days under any circumstances. They would be brought back to their homeland as soon as possible via Zeeland through liberated Belgium. Negotiations about this were already underway. It would be four weeks.

Tuesday, October 29, 1918 – Two days after their arrival, three of the refugees housed in Aalten decided to flee. After breakfast, they had left the building with all their belongings, with directions from Aalten via Varsseveld and Terborg to Arnhem. However, they were caught by the police and brought back to the Community Hall.

Italians

In an interview with Mayor Monnik, he tells about Italian prisoners of war, who were killed in the factory of N.V. Textiel Mij. were accommodated: “We experienced something peculiar with those Italians. We had given them all some of our beautiful soap, of which we had a whole supply at the time, to be able to wash themselves fresh, but the next day all the soap was eaten by the Italians!”

End of the First World War

Monday, November 11, 1918 – In a forest near the French town of Compiègne, about eighty kilometers north of Paris, the armistice was concluded that ended the First World War. The more than 40,000 French refugees in the Netherlands were able to return home. This was quite a logistical organization, so it would take until January 1919 before the last French could leave. In addition, the Germans released their prisoners of war, and of course they also wanted to return to their homeland as soon as possible. A huge stream of refugees started, partly via the Netherlands.

Saturday, November 16, 1918 – In Aalten, everything was prepared to receive the stream of English refugees that was expected from Germany. In the schools and other buildings, everything was set up for this purpose so that 900 men could be housed. The rest would be forwarded to surrounding municipalities. To maintain order, a company of infantry of the 22nd regiment from Ede had arrived in Aalten. The soldiers were housed in the public school on the Herenstraat as well as in the Chr. School on the Bredevoortsestraatweg. The Nieuwe Aaltensche Courant added: “For our otherwise so quiet village a lot of hustle and bustle!“.

Tuesday, November 19, 1918 – Nieuwe Aaltensche Courant: “On the eastern border, the camp management, in anticipation of the throngs of prisoners of war, who are now being released in Germany and want to return to their homeland on their own, was no longer in control of the situation. To prevent fermentation, a deputation came to ‘s-Heerenberg to discuss transport. In order to guide the stream into a good bed, the Dutch army command has determined that Belgians and French may only pass through the narrowest strip of Limburg on our land, at the other points they will be irrevocably relegated. Only English people are admitted there. Concentration camps are being prepared in ‘s-Heerenberg, Aalten, Dinxperlo and Winterswijk.”

Refugees from German prison camps also crossed the border into Aalten. On Saturday, November 16, a group of 21 French refugees managed to reach Aalten. They had even already found their way to the Community Hall, where they joyfully greeted their compatriots. To their disappointment, however, they were informed that—due to the aforementioned decision—they would be sent back to Germany. Understandably, they were not keen on this, but it was mandatory. As a farewell, they asked to be allowed to sing the Marseillaise with their brothers from the Community Hall, which was granted by the commander.

In a supplement to the above-mentioned report, the same newspaper nevertheless reported that “The initially taken decision to send the French who arrived here back to Germany has been withdrawn, so that they can be forwarded from here to Rotterdam.”

Word of thanks on departure from Aalten

Friday, November 29, 1918 – Aaltensche Courant: “So we have lost our French guests once again! On Tuesday, the prisoners of war departed, and on Wednesday morning, the refugees left the Community Hall, where the following grateful speech was delivered by Mr. Lopes:

“Mr. Commander. We are about to leave our camp, which you yourself have baptized “Salle Maréchal Foch,” thus showing your sympathy for France and your admiration for him who led us to victory.

Before leaving, we will repeat to you that by your benevolence and by the devotion with which you have done your difficult work so well, you have won the esteem of all the refugees. And our stay here has not always been very pleasant, because it was not feasible for you to give us all the pleasures that we hope to find again in our family; but you have done the impossible to soften our fate.

We have come to Dutch soil, M. the Commander, especially to escape the forced labor against our fatherland, against our brothers, against our fathers, against our children. We have found a refuge in this quiet country, where we have been able to recover from the fatigues and inconveniences of our long journey. If the Netherlands had offered us nothing but this satisfaction, that we know we are safe from forced labour, we would already owe it a great debt of gratitude.

But we have other reasons to keep pleasant memories of the municipality of Aalten, because at first we could think of a fairly cool reception, in the sequel we saw that the great majority of the population was well-disposed towards us. Moreover, we have material proofs of this: corrections, successively made to our lodgings, blankets have been distributed, the hall has been heated, the evening meal has been improved, soap has been distributed, postcards have been provided free of charge, smoking in the dining room has been permitted, cigars have been distributed, everyone has received a guilder, books, illustrated sheets have been donated, various games, underwear and superwear and clogs have been given, repaired shoes, mended undergarments and outerwear, yes, you gave parties and lectures, offered little memories, etc.

Moreover, the members of the Bureau, during their visits to thank the generous donors and in their friendship with several respectable families, were very surprised to find, so close to the German border, many people who knew the French language, even subscribed to newspapers from our country.

So, M. the Commandant, we will keep our stay in Aalten in pleasant memories. We will never forget a benevolence and a devotion that nothing could slacken, whatever the objections that had to be overcome. This sincere and heartfelt gratitude, of which we assure you, is the expression of the feelings of all the réfugiés in the ‘Maréchal Foch’ hall; it is unanimously brought to you (you may be proud of it!). Although we would like to thank you personally, we must not forget Mr. Chief Deputy, the entire Fire Brigade and also the police. To us, they were more friends than guards.

And as for the kind ladies who have so often honored us with her presence, and even voluntarily made themselves our servant maids at all our meals, they have reminded us too much of our wives, our mothers, our sisters, our betrothed, for us to forget them. But it is impossible for us to mention the names of all those who have taken an interest in the improvement of our lot. We therefore ask you, M. de C., to be our interpreter for these people, to thank them on behalf of the Bureau, on behalf of all comrades, on behalf of our families, on behalf even of the three twin cities of Lille, Roubaix, Tourcoing, from which we almost all come and where French and Belgians have learned to live on good terms. working side by side, one of one’s minds, long before the common suffering.

And, now that we are going to leave for our hearths, allow us to cry out loudly: Long live M. the Commander! Long live Aalten! Long live the Netherlands! Long live Belgium! Long live France!”

It has become quite empty in our streets. We were already used to seeing groups of red-trousers, or yellow- and grey-trimmed warriors in front of the shop windows. To Rotterdam by rail, they go there today, Friday, on the boat that takes them to France. How happy they will be when they can see the coast of Picardy again! No doubt the ladies, who have helped all the time that the refugees stayed here, with the distribution and distribution of the food, will be remembered by them with gratitude for a long time to come, and our brave fire brigade no less.”

French frustrations

It will come as no surprise that the conditions in which the refugees were housed were not ideal. Nor that frustrations arose after a while among some of the refugees. What is remarkable is the following publication in the Nieuwe Aaltensche Courant of 3 January 1919, more than a month after the departure of the French refugees:

“Aalten enjoyed the honor, probably for the first time, to be mentioned in the French Chamber, in the discussion of the situation of the French refugees in the Netherlands. It was said by one of the deputies that forty thousand refugees in our country are literally starving. Isn’t it beautiful? See here a sketch of the situation:

“Our refugees are housed in stables and barns, without heating and without beds. They sleep on dirty straw. Under the arrangements made, the mayors must arrange for the supply at the expense of the Relief Commission. Unfortunately, the lack of organization is felt everywhere. Everywhere it is a “pan”! Items that are requested will not be delivered. For every step, for every complaint, six instances are needed, so that everything goes into disarray. Women and children are shivering from the cold here, without coal, without warm clothes. For days there is no meat, the weakest succumb to lack of care. The bread provided by the Dutch government is inedible.”

We do not know how care was arranged in other places. But we do know that this description does not fit the treatment as the refugees have received in Aalten. Now it is not impossible that here and there the organization was not immediately punctual – would the French, in the same circumstances, have fared better? – but ‘dying of hunger and cold’ will, we trust, turn out to be a horrible exaggeration.”

In addition, the French delegate reported:

“Several French refugees, who were housed in Aalten, have lost their patience and sent the following ultimatum to our representative by telegraph: “Two hundred refugees, powerful men from Lille, Roubaix and Tourcoing, demand immediate repatriation. They will leave on foot on Thursday, if no solution is found by then.”

To whom is the blame that the refugees lost their patience? In no case to the Dutch authorities. Those who had quietly left before their time have themselves stated in a letter to the chief of the fire brigade that their departure was not caused by undue treatment or care, but solely by the fact that they longed to return to their hometown.

We hope that our government will provide a resounding protest against the false rumors spread on this subject by enemies of our country. Let them inform the French authorities themselves, so that they are not exclusively dependent on the information of the French embassy in The Hague, which is so well informed of the actual situation, that the following message has been received here in the last few days: “The French refugees who are staying in Aalten may leave on January 15th.” While they have already arrived in their respective homes in northern France a few weeks ago!“
Sources
27 October 1918
German currency as a daily means of payment
Until the beginning of the 20th century, German money was the daily means of payment in Aalten. This was due on the one hand to the lively trade with Germany and on the other because many residents of Aalten worked in the textile factories in Bocholt. They were paid in German money and put this into circulation in Aalten.

In 1937, G.H. Rots described in a series of articles how things were done in Aalten in former times. For instance, he wrote about the local payment transactions:

“…Speaking of agio, that was caused by the German money that was in circulation here and was the daily means of payment. It was such that Dutch currency was rarely seen. If one needed ‘Dutch money’, for example for taxes, one had to go to a few individuals who ran large businesses to exchange German money. Until the beginning of this century, the circulation of German money in our municipality was still common.

A very rare 20-mark gold coin from 1888, shown here for illustrative purposes.

When the government wanted to take measures to prohibit that circulation, many people resisted. The association ‘Aalten’s Belang’ became involved, and within that association, a fierce struggle arose over the abolition or retention of German money. In Hotel De Roskam, owned by Mr. Voorderman, well-attended meetings were held. Those who conducted a lot of trade with Germany or had German customers in their shops saw a significant disadvantage in the abolition of German money.

That trade with Germany was quite busy. There were almost no border restrictions, and on the Bocholt market days, numerous merchants went there to sell their wares. And those who worked in Germany also naturally received their wages in German money and put this back into circulation in our municipality. One should therefore not think too lightly of it. And at one of the meetings of Aalten’s Belang, it came to heated debates, and even the continued existence of the association was jeopardized as a result of this issue. Finally, the abolition was introduced in July 1914, and the population adapted to it.”

Aaltensche Courant, 29 October 1904

Aaltensche Courant, 26 November 1910

Aaltensche Courant, 2 May 1919
Source
- ‘From Aalten’s Past’, by G.H. Rots, Aaltensche Courant, 31 December 1937 (via Delpher)
1 July 1914

Cross-border workers Aalten-Bocholt around 1900

The German city of Bocholt lies approximately twelve kilometers south of Aalten. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, Bocholt grew into an important center of the textile industry. This flourishing industrial city attracted many workers from the border region. Hundreds of border workers from Aalten, Bredevoort, and surrounding rural districts found employment there, especially in the numerous textile factories and in construction.

In 1904, Prof. Dr. H. Blink wrote: “Every day, as many as 150 workers go from Aalten to Bocholt; rough, large wagons, covered with white hoods in the rain and drawn by two horses, bring the workers to Bocholt every morning and carry them back in the evening.”

Thanks to the Aalten population register, in which the employer was also regularly recorded around 1900, we know of many workers that they worked in Bocholt and for which company.¹

Cross-border workers Aalten-Bocholt – Graafschapbode, 4 December 1897 — *De Graafschapbode, 4 December 1897*

Who were the people working in Bocholt?

In the overview below, you will find the names of many border workers from the municipality of Aalten who were employed in Bocholt around 1900, including their profession and employer. Perhaps some of your ancestors are among them? Please note: this overview is not exhaustive.

Achternaam	Voornaam	Geboortedatum	Beroep	Firma	Woonadres	Woonplaats
Albers	Bernadus Augustinus	23-03-1877	Fabrieksarbeider	Gebr. Weyl	Bodendijk 37	Aalten
Albers	Hermanus	06-02-1866	Wever	Vagedes	Damstr. 9	Aalten
Albers	Jan Willem	25-09-1871	Wever	Vagedes	Damstr. 9	Aalten
Arentsen	Martinus Johannes	02-01-1883	Spinner	Schwartz	Ormelstr. 24	Aalten
Beckers	Hendrik August	20-10-1892	Metselaar (knecht)	Heusinkveld	Koppelstr. 14	Bredevoort
Beckers	Johan Joseph August	19-10-1889	Timmerman (knecht)	Hulskamp	Koppelstr. 14	Bredevoort
Beeks	Hermanus Hendrikus	02-05-1873	Wever	Gebr. Driessen	Polstr. 9	Aalten
Beest, te	Willem	17-02-1887	Bleker	Schwartz	Misterstr. 3	Bredevoort
Beijerink	Gerhard Johannes	27-07-1851	Blauwverver	Frentrop	Bocholtsestr. 50	Heurne
Bennink	Hendrikus Antonius	19-07-1890	Wever	Von Velsen	Lichtenvoordsestr. 7	Aalten
Betting	Hermanus Bernardus	14-06-1871	Wever	Frentrop	Stationsstr. ?	Aalten
Bijen	Hendrikus Johannes	25-12-1886	Tuinman	Vallée	Plein Zuid 3	Aalten
Blekkink	Hendrikus	22-08-1891	Rouwer	Frentrop	Gasthuisstr. 5	Bredevoort
Blekkink	Jan Hendrik	30-10-1892	Wever	Frentrop	Koppelstr. 3	Bredevoort
Blekkink	Tonia Johanna	21-06-1891	Spinner	Malie	Koppelstr. 3	Bredevoort
Bleumink	Hendrik Jan	11-02-1889	Wever	Cosman Cohen	Misterstr. 3	Bredevoort
Boesveld	Gerhard	04-06-1884	Wever	Cosman Cohen	Dijkstr. 1	Aalten
Boschker	Hendrikus Bernardus	28-10-1887	Metselaar	Bisschop	Koppelstr. 12	Bredevoort
Boschker	Theodorus Hendrikus	27-03-1889	Wever	Gebr. Braunschweig	Koppelstr. 12	Bredevoort
Bretveld	Hendrik	10-08-1849	Landbouwer	Brauerei Tangerding	Grevinkweg 9	Dale
Brinkman	Pieter Johannes	14-02-1881	Spinner	Von Velsen	Lichtenvoordsestr. ?	Aalten
Bröker	Arnoldus Wilhelmus	01-09-1890	Spinner	Schwartz	Steile Dalweg 5	Aalten
Bröker	Gerharda Maria	14-01-1894	Spoeler	Schwartz	Steile Dalweg 5	Aalten
Bröker	Joseph	28-10-1862	Spinner / Krasser / Aanlapper	Driessen / Schwartz	Steile Dalweg 5	Aalten
Brusse	Gerhard	02-04-1890	Wever	Malie	Misterstr. 5	Bredevoort
Buitink	Johannes Hermanus	02-04-1883	Spinner	Schwartz	Hogestr. 35	Aalten
Bulten	Bernard	17-09-1884	Stoker	Gebr. Braunschweig	Staringstr. 15	Aalten
Daniels	Antonius	31-10-1887	Metselaar	?	onbekend	Bredevoort
Duenk	Hendrik Jan	23-09-1858	Opperman	Bierman	Damstr. 24	Aalten
Ebbers	Johannes Bernadus	03-05-1874	Fabrieksarbeider	Gebr. Felix	Bodendijk 1	Aalten
Ebbers	Johannes Wilhelmus	13-02-1875	Wever	Horsmann & Co.	Kerkstr. 7	Bredevoort
Ebbeskamp	Hendrik	12-12-1845	Spinner	Gebr. Driessen	Ormelstr. 24	Aalten
Elferink	Derk Jan	10-08-1884	Opperman	Beltink	Bredevoortsestr. ?	Aalten
Firing	Johannes Arnoldus	27-03-1879	Schildersknecht	?	Landstr.	Bredevoort
Fleming	Berend Jan	08-01-1866	Grondarbeider	Baron van Diepenbroek	Koppelstr. 3	Bredevoort
Frenken	Johannes Franciscus	31-01-1890	Wever	Gebr. Braunschweig	‘t Zand ?	Bredevoort
Frenken	Johannes Hendrikus	08-06-1863	Wever	Frentrop	Ambthuiswal 24	Bredevoort
Frenken	Johannes Hendrikus	02-03-1888	Wever	Gebr. Braunschweig	‘t Zand ?	Bredevoort
Gillesen	Jacob	22-06-1846	Wever	A. & L. Ketteler	Kiefteweg 10	Heurne
Gillesen	Maria	06-07-1872	Wever	A. & L. Ketteler	Kiefteweg 10	Heurne
Griess	Johanna Maria Aleida	01-01-1890	Spinner	Gebr. Driessen	Landstr. 26	Aalten
Grijsen	Antonie	30-05-1835	Fabrieksarbeider	?	Berkenhovestr. 5	Aalten
Grijsen	Hendrika	27-09-1878	Fabrieksarbeider	Schwartz	Berkenhovestr. 5	Aalten
Harkel, ten	Hendrik Jan	30-04-1852	Houtbewerker	Gebr. Felix	Ormelstr. 26	Aalten
Have, ten	Aleida Hendrika	19-10-1890	Spinner	Gebr. Driessen	Hozenstr. 22	Bredevoort
Have, ten	Gesina Johanna	10-02-1888	Spinner	Gebr. Driessen	Hozenstr. 22	Bredevoort
Haverkate	Johannes	03-02-1867	Spoelmeester Spinnerij	Schwartz	Dijkstr. 27	Aalten
Heijnen	Hendrik Jan	04-08-1882	Timmerman (knecht)	?	Varsseveldsestr. ?	Aalten
Heinen	Hendrik Willem	31-03-1891	Schildersknecht	Ten Broeke	Varsseveldsestr. 39	Aalten
Hilbelink	Berend Willem	06-02-1844	Knecht	Brauerei Tangerding	Lankhofstr. 17	Aalten
Hilbelink	Jan Willem	30-11-1885	Wever	Frentrop	Bredevoortsestr.	Aalten
Hoeben	Johannes Chrisostumus	27-06-1882	Polderwerker	Wittag (?)	Prinsenstr.	Aalten
Horn	Hendrik Willem	12-05-1876	Voerknecht	?	Landbouwstraat 3a
Horst, ter	Derk Jan	18-10-1873	Opperman	Vallée	Bredevoortsestr. 48	Aalten
Hubers	Willemina Geertruida	25-09-1865	Spinner	Schwartz	RK Gasthuis	Aalten
Huitink	Jan Willem	15-02-1886	Metselaar (knecht)	?	Varsseveldsestr. ?	Aalten
Jansen	Hendrik Jan	10-03-1866	Wever	Gebr. Braunschweig	Loohuisweg 28	Haart
Janssen	Gerrit Hendrik	10-07-1889	Verver	Gebr. Braunschweig	Hozenstr. 7	Bredevoort
Janssen	Grada Willemina	23-02-1892	Spinner	Gebr. Driessen	Hozenstr. 7	Bredevoort
Janssen	Willemina	01-10-1894	Spinner	Gebr. Driessen	Hozenstr. 7	Bredevoort
Kempers	Cornelis	17-07-1878	Witwever	Mortens (?)	Haartsestr. 21	Aalten
Kempers	Gerrit Willem	20-09-1873	Opperman	Beltink	Haartsestr. 21	Aalten
Kempers	Johan	06-10-1871	Wever	A. Fisser	Willemstr. 13	Aalten
Kempers	Wilhelm	10-07-1875	Wever	Tangerding	Ormelstr. 30	Aalten
Kempink	Jan Berend	11-04-1877	Spinner	Schwartz	Ambthuiswal 24	Bredevoort
Kerkhof, van de	Catharina Elisabeth	26-08-1894	Spinner	Schwartz	RK Gasthuis	Aalten
Klein Essink	Barend Johan	18-08-1875	Metselaar	Bierman	Haartsestr.	Aalten
Kleinhesselink	Johan Cornelis	10-04-1877	Opperman	Bisschop	Lankhofstr. 1	Aalten
Koelman	Hendrikus Wilhelmus	04-01-1890	Schildersknecht	?	Dijkstr. 44	Aalten
Koelman	Johanna Elisabeth	02-10-1884	Spinner	Schwartz	Ormelstr. 15	Aalten
Kolwagen	Everdina Johanna	08-12-1874	Wever	Schwartz	Hogestr. 70	Aalten
Lammers	Lammert Lambertus	19-07-1863	Spinner	Gebr. Driessen	Koopmanstr. 12	Aalten
Langwerden	Eimbert Bernard	21-05-1859	Krasser	Gebr. Driessen	Trompstr. 9	Aalten
Lankheet	Johanna	24-08-1892	Spinner	Schwartz	Zuiderlaan?	Aalten
Lievers	Hendrikus	15-09-1893	Spinner	Gebr. Driessen	Ormelstr. 13	Aalten
Lievers	Johanna Geertruida	11-11-1891	Spinner	Von Velsen	Ormelstr. 13	Aalten
Lievers	Willemina	07-04-1894	Spinner	Von Velsen	Parallelweg 14a	Aalten
Lindert, te	Gerrit	27-03-1878	Metselaar	Beltink	Markt 16	Aalten
Magis	Gerrit Willem	22-07-1884	Opperman	?	Oosterkerkstr. 12	Aalten
Meijer	Heinrich	29-08-1878	Wever / Verver	Grote (?)	Dijkstr. 1	Aalten
Meijerman	Derk Willem	13-10-1883	Tuinman	Beckmann	Varsseveldsestr. 11	Aalten
Mengerink	Engbert	09-12-1879	Spinner	Schwartz	Hogestr. 35	Aalten
Mengerink	Gerrit Hendrik	05-06-1889	Fabrieksarbeider	Schwartz	Lankhofstr. 21	Aalten
Mengerink	Willem	13-06-1875	Metselaar	A. Verlee	Lankhofstr.	Aalten
Navis	Derk Jan	04-12-1840	Wever	Beckmann	Hogestr. 63	Aalten
Navis	Gerrit Hendrik	23-12-1890	Spinner	Gebr. Driessen	Lankhofstr. ?	Aalten
Neerhof	Hendrik Jan	11-03-1884	Wever	de Groot	Ormelstr. 6	Aalten
Neerhof	Herman	05-04-1879	Wever	Grote (?)	Boomkampstr. ?	Aalten
Nijenkamp	Gerrit Jan	18-02-1877	Houtbewerker	Gebr. Felix	Bodendijk 72	Aalten
Nijman	Johanna Geertruida	22-07-1884	Spinner	Rothe Erde	onbekend	Aalten
Oberink	Christiaan	06-05-1892	Spinner	Schwartz	Hogestr. 6	Aalten
Oberink	Hendrikus Jan Willem	29-04-1891	Spinner	Gebr. Driessen	Hogestr. 64	Aalten
Obrink	Jan Hendrik	29-01-1883	Metselaar	Heusinkveld	Hogestr. 64	Aalten
Obrink	Johan Antoon	15-04-1880	Timmerman (knecht)	W. Poel	Prinsenstr. 18	Aalten
Ommering	Hendrik Jan	27-11-1888	Metselaar	?	Dijkstr. 21	Aalten
Oonk	Hendrik	27-04-1871	?	Danner & Doormeijer (?)	Hozenstr. 4	Bredevoort
Peeters	Wilhelmus Johannes Theodorus	30-06-1893	Afzetter	Gebr. Weyl	Landstr. ?	Bredevoort
Peulers	Bernardus Johannes	07-02-1862	Spinner	Schwartz	Willemstr. 13	Aalten
Piek	Gerrit Willem	12-06-1884	Metselaar	Vallée	Lichtenvoordsestr. 15	Aalten
Piek	Hendrik Jan	20-05-1873	Smeerder	Schwartz	Loohuisweg 28	Haart
Prins	Adolf	30-10-1871	Spinner	Schwartz / Von Velsen	Varsseveldsestr. 20	Aalten
Prins	Jan Steven Schaars	27-02-1887	Tuinmanknecht	A. Remmer	Boomkampstr. 24	Aalten
Prinsen	Gerrit Hendrik Willem	22-07-1881	Bierbrouwersknecht	Brauerei Tangerding	Loohuisweg 1	Haart
Rietstap, te	Gerhard	01-06-1886	Metselaar (knecht)	?	Ambthuiswal 14	Bredevoort
Rietstap, te	Johannes Hendrikus	13-04-1892	Metselaar (knecht)	?	Ambthuiswal 14	Bredevoort
Schaapveld	Hendrikus Johannes Arnoldus	19-06-1887	?	Temmink Fietsenhandel	Dijkstr. 27	Aalten
Schenk	Bernard Gerhardus	06-04-1885	Fabrieksarbeider	Buggelink (?)	Molenkampsdijk 11	Aalten
Schepers	Antonij	01-12-1866	Opperman	Vallée	Ormelstr. 16	Aalten
Schepers	Grada Wilhelmina	16-01-1891	Spinner	Von Velsen	Ormelstr. 16	Aalten
Schepers	Jan	27-08-1874	Fabrieksarbeider	Wwe. B. Messing	Ormelstr. 9	Aalten
Schepers	Johanna	12-01-1893	Spinner	Von Velsen	Ormelstr. 16	Aalten
Scholten	Bernardus	29-11-1877	Metselaar	Duys	Boomkampstr. 20	Aalten
Schoppers	Tonij	06-05-1877	Tuinman	Wools	Lichtenvoordsestr. ?	Aalten
Sikking	Hendrikus	04-06-1890	Wever	Wietholt	Kerkstr. 11	Bredevoort
Sligte, te	Hendrik	20-03-1861	Wever	Gebr. Driessen	Dijkstraat 32	Aalten
Stevens	Engelbertus	05-01-1873	Metselaar (knecht)	Vallée	‘t Zand 3	Bredevoort
Stevens	Hendrikus Wilhelmus	21-04-1899	Metselaar (knecht)	Vallée	‘t Zand 3	Bredevoort
Straks	Gerhard Abraham	14-03-1884	Schilder	Bierman	Ormelstr. 18	Aalten
Straks	Gerrit Jan	03-03-1880	Schilder	Graatmann	Ormelstr. 18	Aalten
Stronks	Arent Jan	06-12-1873	Voerman / vrachtrijder	Gebr. Wolf	Dinxperlosestr. 77	Aalten
Stronks	Gerrit Jan	26-11-1867	Landbouwer (knecht)	Brauerei Tangerding	Prinsenstr. 28	Aalten
Tammel	Herman	22-09-1870	Krasser	Beckmann	Steile Dalweg 8?	Aalten
Temming	Bernardus Hendrikus	03-02-1892	Spinner	Gebr. Weyl	Kerkstr. 2	Bredevoort
Toebes	Anton Johann	13-04-1881	Fabrieksarbeider	Hulskamp	Stationsstr. ?	Aalten
Ubbink	Bernardus Johannes	01-07-1862	Timmerman	?	Officierstr. 2	Bredevoort
Ubbink	Gradus Bernadus	28-03-1872	Timmerman (knecht)	Kok	Vischmarkt 3	Bredevoort
Ubbink	Gradus Johannes	06-09-1881	Wever	Gebr. Braunschweig	Gasthuisstr. 3	Bredevoort
Ubbink	Johannes Josephus	25-08-1886	Wever	Gebr. Braunschweig	Gasthuisstr. 3	Bredevoort
Uebbing	August Johan	06-12-1893	Wever	Lieprijgh (?)	Misterstr. 21	Bredevoort
Uffink	Hendrikus Johannes	11-10-1877	Wever	Frentrop	Steile Dalweg 8?	Aalten
Veenhuis	Gerrit Jan	16-11-1863	Wever	Frentrop	Landstr. /Stationsstr. ?	Aalten
Veldkamp	Hendrikus Antonius	04-03-1880	Wever	Gebr. Braunschweig	Landstr. 18	Bredevoort
Verstege	Wilhelmus	22-01-1864	Veldarbeider	Baron van Barlo	Koppelstr. 29	Bredevoort
Vries, de	Bernardus Hendrikus	03-02-1883	Spinner	Von Velsen	Landstr. 20	Bredevoort
Vries, de	Henrich Joseph	01-12-1892	Wever	Frentrop	Landstr. 20	Bredevoort
Vries, de	Johannes Bernardus Josephus	29-12-1881	Spinner	?	Ambthuiswal 16	Bredevoort
Waal, van der	Johannes	24-12-1886	Spinner	Schwartz	Dijkstr. 5?	Aalten
Walvoort	Johannes	14-06-1881	Spinner	Beckmann	Ormelstr. 24	Aalten
Wansing	Wilhelm	06-09-1879	Spinner	Schwartz	Patrimoniumstr. 9	Aalten
Weenink	Johan Gerhard	16-05-1877	Timmerman	Knufman	Loohuisweg 3	Haart
Weikamp	Catharina Johanna	30-10-1876	Wever	Frentrop	Damstr. 22	Aalten
Weikamp	Gerhardus Hendrikus	21-06-1880	Fabrieksarbeider	Rothe Erde	Industriestr. 3	Aalten
Wensing	Bernard Gerhard	13-01-1889	Spinner	Schwartz	Stationsstr. ?	Aalten
Wensing	Hendrika Elisabeth Maria	28-06-1891	Spinner	Rothe Erde	Stationsstr. ?	Aalten
Wensing	Johanna Gesina Maria	11-04-1894	Spinner	Schwartz	Stationsstr. ?	Aalten
Wensink	Franciscus	19-02-1879	Wever	?	Hozenstr. 16	Bredevoort
Wensink	Johannes	24-05-1874	Wever	Frentrop	Vischmarkt 11	Bredevoort
Wensink	Johannes	11-03-1874	Wever	?	Hozenstr. 26	Bredevoort
Wentink	Hendrik Jan	22-05-1893	Spinner	Schwartz	Boomkampstr. ?	Aalten
Wevers	Hendrikus	30-06-1862	Wever	Gebr. Driessen	Dijkstraat 34	Aalten
Wichers	Johannes Theodorus Josephus	25-12-1887	Wever	Cosman Cohen	Landstr. 24	Bredevoort
Wiggemans	Geerart	01-12-1883	Voerman	Osbergen (?)	Varsseveldsestr.	Aalten
Wiltink	Johanna Elisabeth	29-10-1887	Krasser	Gebr. Weyl	Bocholtsestr. 50	Heurne
Wiltink	Johanna Willemina	13-08-1889	Spinner	Rothe Erde	Damstr. 26	Aalten
Wolferink	Herman Bernard	01-12-1884	Spinner	Schwartz	Stationsstr. 29?	Aalten
Wubbels	Bernadus Engelbartus	13-09-1881	Fabrieksarbeider	?	Gasthuisstr. 7	Bredevoort
Wubbels	Bernardus Gerhardus	09-11-1890	Wever	Gebr. Braunschweig	‘t Zand 19	Bredevoort
Wubbels	Johannes Hendrikus Bernardus	07-07-1889	Wever	Gebr. Braunschweig	‘t Zand 19	Bredevoort
Zeevalk	Harmen	30-10-1870	Metselaar (knecht)	Beltink	Lankhofstr. 2-4	Aalten

Companies in Bocholt

Below is an overview of companies in Bocholt where workers from Aalten were employed around 1900. This list is also incomplete:

Franz Beckmann & Cie.

Cotton mill

Founded in 1895, this firm grew into one of the city’s largest spinning mills. The company was acquired by the firm Flender in 1967. The original factory building has been renovated and restored to its former glory.

🔗 industriewerk.eu

Gebr. Braunschweig

Cotton mill

Founded in 1873 on Kaiser-Wilhelm-Straße. In 1897, a dye works and a fabric finishing department were added on Frankenstraße. In 1921, the firm was removed from the commercial register.

🔗 bocholt.de

Gebr. Driessen

Cotton mill

The first large industrial enterprise in Bocholt, founded in 1857. After a fire in 1888, the factory was replaced by a larger new building. The company ceased operations in 1978. The 34-meter-high chimney was preserved and now stands in the middle of the Arkaden shopping center.

🔗 industriewerk.eu

A. & L. Ketteler

Cotton mill

No further information available.

Wwe. B. Messing

Poetswolfabriek

Around 1900, the firm Wwe. B. Messing was active in Bocholt as a producer of cotton waste. The factory was located in the current Weber Quartier, behind the Kinodrom on the river Aa.

🔗 digital.slub-dresden.de

Albin Tangerding & Comp.

Fur weaving mill

Founded in 1864. No further information available.

Brauerei Tangerding

Steam beer brewery

The Hirsch-Brauerei of Franz Tangerding in Bocholt-Stenern produced various types of beer, soft drinks, and fruit lemonades. The ruins of the original brewhouse from 1896 are still present on the former brewery site.

🔗 marius-lange-geschichte.de & tus-stenern.de

Gebr. Weyl

Steam weaving mill

“At the entrance of the current Karolingerstraße stood the factory of Cosman Cohen, and further south were the factories of Gebr. Weyl and Braunschweig.”

🔗 st-josef-bocholt.de

J. Beckmann

Weaving mill

In 1859, Josef Philipp Beckmann started a steam weaving mill on Kreuzstraße with his sons. In 1891, the company split into J. Beckmann Nachfolger and Heinrich Beckmann Söhne. Both companies later merged again into IBENA.

🔗 ibena.de

Cosman Cohen & Comp.

Weaving mill

Founded in 1862 on Kaiser-Wilhelm-Straße. In 1897, the factory burned down. A new factory was built at Industriestraße 7. In 1929, the weaving mill was sold to the neighboring company H. Beckmann Söhne and is now owned by IBENA.

🔗 ibena.de

Gebr. Felix

Steam-powered sawmill

No further information available.

Frentrop & Co.

Steam weaving mill

No further information available.

Rothe Erde

Cotton mill

In 1898, the Aktiengesellschaft Baumwollspinnerei Rothe Erde had a factory built between Werther Straße and the Aa. The spinning mill with the adjacent weaving mill was one of the largest companies in the city.

🔗 industriewerk.eu

Ludwig Schwartz

Textile factory

From 1857, Ludwig Schwartz had several steam weaving and spinning mills built on his estate Haus Woord. After his death, the company was continued by his widow Theodora Schwartz and later by their sons. The firm ended its activities in 1971. The current Schwartzstraße in Bocholt serves as a reminder of this textile enterprise.

🔗 wikipedia.org

Vagedes

Weaving mill

The firm Vagedes was located in the Biemenhorst district. In 1990, the company was on the verge of liquidation. Two former employees then founded Setex-Textil and continued Vagedes’ activities.

🔗 wikipedia.org

August Vallée

Construction company

No further information available.

🔗 presse-service.de

Von Velsen & Cie.

Cotton mill

In 1889, Max Hugo von Velsen, former director of Ludwig Schwartz’s spinning mill, founded his own cotton spinning mill. The factory, located between the Westend and the river Aa, included a spinning mill, twisting mill, and finishing department. The company closed in 1934.

🔗 explore.gnd.network & bocholt.de

Factory locations

Below you will find a map showing the (presumed) locations of the aforementioned factories in Bocholt.

Interesting facts

Commuters from Aalten crossed the border six days a week, mostly on foot, by bicycle, or by horse and carriage. In 1910, relief came with the construction of a tram line between Aalten and Bocholt, which significantly shortened travel time. Working days were long: 12 to 14 hours was no exception.

Border workers from Aalten received their wages in German Marks. This money was circulated in the local Aalten economy. Around 1900, German money was therefore the daily currency in Aalten. However, this was formally prohibited in 1914.

A local branch of a German textile union was even active in Aalten, the Zentralverband Christliche Textilarbeiter, Ortsgruppe Aalten.

Those who wish to learn more about the history of the textile industry in Bocholt can visit the LWL-Museum Textilwerk. Here, the city’s rich textile past is brought to life with original machinery and various exhibitions.

Sources

Heritage Centre Achterhoek & Liemers ↩︎

15 May 1905

Cadastral no.	R-426
Function	Boundary stone
Year of construction	1766
Listed	National monument

Category: Border

Tram and marechaussee

Border Office

Features

Photo album

Newspaper reports

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Population register 1860-1870

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Population register 1880-1890

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Population register 1890-1900

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Population register 1900-1910

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Population register 1910-1920

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Population register 1920-1930

Address directory 1934

Address directory 1967

Sources

Trade route and border crossing

Cross Chapel

Present-day significance

Features

Sources

Backward

Klootschieten

Tyrolean Evening

Source

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A Smuggler Shot

The Eyewitness’s Story

Source

Newspaper reports

French refugees in the Festival Hall

Salle Maréchal Foch

Italians

End of the First World War

Word of thanks on departure from Aalten

French frustrations

Sources

Source

Who were the people working in Bocholt?

Companies in Bocholt

Franz Beckmann & Cie.

Gebr. Braunschweig