The memorial for people in hiding (Onderduikersmonument) on Stationsstraat is an expression of gratitude from those who were once in hiding to the people of Aalten for their hospitality, and to the members of the Resistance who were the driving force behind finding accommodation for them.
The monument consists of a brick memorial wall with a fountain. A bronze plaque and two sculpted fragments of natural stone are set into the memorial wall.
The monument was unveiled on 4 October 1947 by Mrs D.G. Wikkerink-Eppink, the wife of Resistance leader Hendrik Jan (Ome Jan) Wikkerink.
The text on the plaque reads (translated from Dutch):
PRESENTED TO THE MUNICIPALITY OF AALTEN BY PERSONS IN HIDING WHO DURING THE YEARS OF OCCUPATION 1940-1945 FOUND A SAFE HAVEN HERE.
The sculpted fragments bear the text of Psalm 91:5 and 6.
The text of the left fragment reads:
THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID FOR THE TERROR BY NIGHT, NOR FOR THE ARROW THAT FLIETH BY DAY; NOR FOR THE PESTILENCE THAT WALKETH IN DARKNESS, NOR FOR THE DESTRUCTION THAT WASTETH AT NOONDAY.
The text of the right fragment reads:
FOR HE SHALL COVER THEE WITH HIS FEATHERS, AND UNDER HIS WINGS SHALT THOU TRUST.
The sculpture on the left depicts three studded boots belonging to the barbarian horde, threatening to trample a young, sprouting fruit. This symbolises the overwhelming force and occupation, portraying the vulnerability of young life that continues to germinate despite the danger. The fragment on the right depicts a pelican with outspread wings, protecting its nest and young. The pelican is a Christian symbol of total self-sacrifice; according to legend, the bird feeds its young with its own blood. It symbolises the contribution of the resistance in the struggle against the occupier. The waning swastika in the background represents the transience of the threat.
The Oosterkerk in Aalten houses a monumental stained-glass window dating from 1946. The window was gifted by a committee from the Reformed Church of Rotterdam-Kralingen, on behalf of the churches and the Jewish community, as a token of thanks for the assistance provided by the people of Aalten during World War II to those in hiding (onderduikers), Jewish fellow citizens, the starving, and hundreds of children from Rotterdam.
Rev. Thomas Delleman (1898–1977)
Thomas Delleman (1898–1977) served as a minister in Aalten from 1930 to 1938 before moving to Rotterdam-Kralingen. Following the Bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940, he took the initiative to arrange for children from his new parish to stay in Aalten for a holiday. During the war years, a total of approximately 800 children from Rotterdam were taken in by host families in Aalten.
Delleman contributed in other ways as well. He ensured that young men wishing to evade the Arbeitseinsatz (forced labour) could go into hiding in Aalten. Furthermore, in 1943, around 500 evacuees from Scheveningen were accommodated in Aalten. During the ‘Hunger Winter’, trains carrying food regularly departed from Aalten for the west of the country.
This dedication made a profound impression in Rotterdam and led to the formation of a committee after the liberation to thank the people of Aalten.
Origin of the Commemorative Window
Initially, the intention was to place the window in the Westerkerk, as more than forty young men had been arrested there during a roundup (razzia) in 1944. However, all the windows in the Oosterkerk had been shattered after a V1 rocket landed nearby in January 1945. Consequently, it was decided to install the window in the Oosterkerk instead.
The window was designed by the Rotterdam artist Marius Richters (1878–1955) and executed by glazier Henri van Lamoen (1900–1949). With a height of eight metres and a width of over three metres, it is one of the largest stained-glass windows in the Achterhoek. Richters utilised bold colours and clear, almost narrative scenes that express both the threat of war and the warmth of the relief efforts.
The window was installed in the front facade of the Oosterkerk and officially unveiled by Rev. Delleman on 13 July 1946. The ceremony was broadcast live on the radio by the NCRV.
Design
The window is over eight metres high and three metres wide, set within a trifora.
Commemorative window, Oosterkerk, Aalten
At the top: The coat of arms of the Netherlands with the motto “Je maintiendrai”. Below this is the Dutch Maiden, holding the flag in her right hand and a burning torch in her left. On either side stand a farmer and a bricklayer, referring to the post-war reconstruction.
Central: A farmer and his wife, symbolising the people of Aalten, surrounded by children and a person in hiding. From both sides, German soldiers with bayonets march into the scene.
Bottom left: Emaciated women and children pleading for help.
Bottom right: A group of people who have been helped, returning home supplied with foodstuffs.
Bottom centre: The coat of arms of Aalten featuring the linden tree and the coat of arms of the House of Orange, with a scroll reading: “Uit dankbaarheid voor hulp in oorlogstijd, soli Deo gloria” (In gratitude for help in wartime, to God alone the glory). Biblical texts are incorporated elsewhere in the window.
In 1947, two side windows were added to either side of the main window. These feature the symbols of the four Evangelists, images of Moses and Isaiah, and at the bottom, the coats of arms of Rotterdam, Scheveningen, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Kralingen, and a Star of David.
At the base of the side windows are lines of verse by Muus Jacobse (pseudonym of the poet Klaas Heeroma):
Maar als ik leven mag tot de bevrijding en juichen op het overwinningsfeest, God, doe mij dan dit weten, wat voorbijging aan nood en leed is niet vergeefs geweest.
(But if I may live until the liberation and rejoice at the victory feast, God, then let me know this: that the hardship and suffering which passed was not in vain.)
Current Status
The commemorative window can still be seen in the Oosterkerk. When the church was repurposed as a residential care location in 2021, it was formally agreed that the window would be preserved. This ensures the window remains not only an artwork of exceptional scale but also a lasting war monument and a tangible reminder of the aid and hospitality offered by Aalten during World War II.
On the Piepersweg in the Aaltense Heurne there is a memorial in memory of a tragic accident that took place shortly after the liberation of Aalten. The monument was erected in memory of three young boys who died in the accident.
On the afternoon of 4 April 1945, just a few days after the liberation, the boys Wim Schenk (8 years old), his brother Henk Schenk (6 years old) and their friend Wim Wisselink (5 years old) were playing outside.
In a dry ditch along the Bocholtsestraatweg they found a projectile. Unaware of the danger, they threw it at each other. At one point, one of the boys threw the projectile against the wall of a nearby house, after which it exploded.
The consequences were horrible. Wim Schenk died on the spot. His brother Henk and Wim Wisselink were seriously injured and were taken to a military emergency hospital in Barlo, where they died shortly after each other.
Booklet and monument
In 2011 a booklet about this dramatic event was published entitled ‘Spelend de dood in’, written by Louis Veldhuis.
Seventy years after the accident, in 2015, relatives of the Schenk family unveiled a monument at the site of the tragedy. It consists of a pedestal with images of the three boys and was designed by artist Ans Braamskamp.
On March 30, 1945, the Aalten rural district of Barlo was liberated by the Allies. During the relief of Barlo and the surrounding area, an air-raid shelter at the Nijhof farm was hit by an Allied bomb aimed at the retreating Germans.
During the skirmishes between the warring parties, the seven children of the Weenink family, the Elfers couple who had fled from The Hague and the Nijhof couple and daughter Wanda hid in the shelter of the Nijhof farm, which was considered a reliable hiding place.
Headmaster Weenink, who had fourteen children, lived next door to the school that had been taken over by German soldiers. When the alarm went off, he sent his children to the shelters outside the center of Barlo, because he thought it was too dangerous there. Seven children fled to the shelter at the Nijhof farm on the Nijhofsweg. The other children went to the shelter of farm ‘t Markerink. The shelter at Nijhof was not under, but next to the house. The house remained unscathed.
The last bomb dropped from an Allied plane fell on the shelter. The people in it were buried under earth and tree trunks. The Nijhof family was just at the entrance of the cellar to see if the bombing had ended and was spared by this. But five of the seven children and the couple from The Hague died. The liberation of Barlo would become a day of mourning because of this tragedy.
The seven victims were Thomas Elfers (74 yrs.), Helen Elfers-Reisenleitner (74 yrs.), André Weenink (6 yrs.), Co Weenink (17 yrs.), Jan Weenink (3 yrs.), Mien Weenink (20 yrs.) and Rudolf Weenink (6 yrs.).
Monument
On the initiative of the Dwars door Barlo Foundation and the relatives of the victims, a monument has been erected in memory. The monument was placed at the Nijhof farm and was unveiled on March 30, 2009. The monument consists of two boulders, one standing upright on top of the other. In the top stone is a round hole with a piece of broken glass in it, as a symbol of the irreparable damage. Below are the names and ages of the victims. On the bottom stone, which serves as a pedestal, is a quote from the Bible. An information board has also been placed at the monument.
The text on the monument reads:
‘GOOD FRIDAY MARCH 30TH, 1945
MIEN WEENINK 20 YEARS CO WEENINK 17 YEARS ANDRÉ WEENINK 6 YEARS RUDOLF WEENINK 6 YEARS JAN WEENINK 3 YEARS OLD T.H. ELFERS 74 YEARS H.C.M. ELFERS-REISENLEITNER 75 YEARS’.
On the pedestal is the quote:
‘INNOCENT LIVES DESTROYED BY RELENTLESS WAR VIOLENCE
PSALM 73, VERSES 12 AND 14 (OLD RHYMING)’.
The text on the information board reads:
‘MONUMENT IN MEMORY
ON GOOD FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1945, THE LAST BOMB FELL THIS PLACE WHERE AN AIR-RAID SHELTER ONCE STOOD. THIS WAS THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN THE HAMLET OF BARLO. THE STRONG HIDING PLACE OF THE NIJHOF FAMILY TURNED OUT NOT TO BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND SUCH NOTHING RUTHLESS VIOLENCE OF WAR.
THE NIJHOF COUPLE AND THEIR DAUGHTER SURVIVED THE WOOF; THE ELFERS COUPLE AND FIVE WEENINK CHILDREN DIED.
THE FIELD BOULDERS SYMBOLIZE THE LEADEN AND MASSIVE SADNESS. THE HOLE WITH THE – BROKEN – GLASS IN ONE OF THE ERRATIC STONES SHOWS US A GLIMPSE OF A NEW FUTURE, ALTHOUGH IT WILL NEVER BE UNSCATHED.
WE HOPE THAT THIS PLACE OF REMEMBRANCE WILL MAKE YOU QUIET STAND BY THE GREAT GIFT OF FREEDOM THAT WE NOW WE CAN LIVE. LET US BE CAREFUL WITH THAT AND TO WORK TO HELP OTHERS IN THIS WAY AS WELL. TO GIVE THE WORLD THAT FREEDOM.
FOUNDATION DWARS DOOR BARLO.’
War Memorial Nijhofsweg, Barlo (photo: Francien Wiersma-Luimes)
On 8 February 1945, a mistake bombing took place in the Aalten rural district of Dale, in which eleven people were killed. In memory of these victims, a monument was unveiled in 1988 on the corner of Aladnaweg and Grevinkweg.
Less than three months before the end of the war, on February 8, 1945, American B-26 Marauder bombers took off from their base in Cambrai in northern France. Their primary target was the area around Kleve, and if that was not possible, they had an alternative target at Groenlo. At Kleve it was too cloudy and so they flew on, but also in the Achterhoek the visibility was poor. Just after 11:00 a.m., they dropped 528 fragmentation bombs.
Two hours later, the aircraft returned safely to Cambrai. Their mission report stated: “Impossible to determine further damage or to locate pattern accurately due to 80% cloud cover”.
Death and destruction
The deadly cargo ended up in the vicinity of the Elshoek and the Grevink in Dale, with terrible consequences. The hundreds of splinter bombs caused death and destruction. The shards flew horizontally across the ground and affected both people and animals. Everywhere lay dismembered horses, cows, sheep, chickens and geese. Some farms suffered direct hits.
All doctors, nurses and emergency services were sent to the crash site. In the mud and among the rubble, they provided first aid to the wounded. These were transported on stretchers and ladders to Huize Avondvrede on the Hogestraat. From there, the seriously injured were transferred to the emergency hospital in Harreveld.
The bombing eventually claimed eleven lives and left several people permanently disabled.
Thes laughter offerings
In the kitchen of the Neerhof family’s farm ‘t Olde Nooitgedacht , Joop de Roon from Rotterdam was found dead. At the Glieuwe farm, where the Hogenkamp family lived, daughter Anna and sons Herman and Jozef were killed. The Bekerhuis farm of the Te Grotenhuis family was completely destroyed. There were four victims here: the children Arie and Teun te Grotenhuis and the brothers Hendrik and Gerrit Stronks, who were in hiding there.
In addition, bombs also fell in the Haartsestraat. Clarel Smit, who had just left Van Lente’s house, was so injured in his feet and legs that he died four months later in the emergency hospital in Harreveld.
The monument
The monument in memory of the victims consists of four stones, from the remains of the house of the Te Grotenhuis family. Mr. Te Grotenhuis piled up these stones at the place in question after the bombing. For years, the stones functioned as an unofficial memorial. In 1988, at the insistence of the local population, they were recognized as an official monument.
The monument for the victims of the mistake bombing in Dale
The names of the victims are inscribed on the memorial stone:
G.J. BRUS 62 YEARS OLD
G.A. BRUS-STRONKS 63 YEARS OLD
A.J. TE GROOTENHUIS 12 YEARS OLD
A. TE GROOTENHUIS 10 YEARS
M. VAN DER HARST 25 YEARS OLD
J.M. HOGENKAMP 22 YEARS OLD
H.J. HOGENKAMP 15 YEARS OLD
J.B.A. HOGENKAMP 6 YEARS OLD
J. DE ROON 18 YEARS OLD
H.W. STRONKS 33 YEARS OLD
G.W. STRONKS 26 YEARS OLD
Sources
Aalten in wartime, J.G. ter Horst
If only I could see them again, the bombing of Dale 8 February 1945, H. de Beukelaer
On or under, Aalten, the land of the people in hiding and of illegality, G.W. Vaags
Interview with Karel Aversteeg (Louis Veldhuis and Gerrit Nijman)
On the Gandvoortweg in the rural district of Barlo in Aalten, there is a modest memorial, erected in memory of the British Flying Officer Leslie Pulfrey of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The memorial marks the meadow where Pulfrey was found dead in the early morning of June 17, 1944, after a failed jump from his burning Lancaster bomber.
The mission
On the evening of 16 June 1944, the four-engined Avro Lancaster bomber ME840, with Pulfrey as a crew member, took off from North Killingholme airfield in Lincolnshire, England. The mission was an attack on factories in Sterkrade, Germany, where, among other things, synthetic oil was produced for the German war industry.
The plane, with seven crew members on board, completed its bombing raid and returned to England. On the way back, however, it was intercepted and attacked by the German night fighter pilot Joseph Nabrich. One of the fuel tanks in the wing caught fire almost immediately, leaving the aircraft irretrievably lost.
The fatal leap
On the pilot’s orders, the crew was ordered to abandon the aircraft. Leslie Pulfrey was the first to jump into the airspace above Barlo. But something went terribly wrong. Although the exact cause remains unclear, he was found dead in a meadow in the early morning of 17 June 1944 by farmer Johan van Eerden of the nearby farm Nieuw Kolstee (Smol).
It is possible that Leslie came into contact with the plane during his jump or that his parachute did not open properly. From a distance, the place where he had landed was clearly visible; His body was still connected to his parachute, which was bulged by the wind. There was a large tear in the parachute and his head had become entangled in the cords. Leslie also missed one of his aviator boots, which he apparently lost after his jump. His name was mentioned on his identification plate.
The crash
The burning Lancaster eventually crashed in a meadow behind the ‘Oude Lieftinck’ farm on the Heelweg (now Twenteroute 5). All but one of the crew were killed. Flight engineer Roy Kay was thrown out of the plane by an explosion just before the crash. Miraculously, he was the only survivor to reach the ground in one piece. He escaped arrest and finally managed to return to England on 22 September 1944, with the help of pilot helpers.
Leslie Pulfrey and his killed colleagues were transferred to Varsseveld, where they were buried.
Tribute
In June 2014, Leslie Pulfrey was honored with a ceremony, during which a so-called Fly-past took place. Four F-16s flew over the vicinity of the Gandvoortweg, and one of the aircraft took off straight up on the spot as a tribute. Thea Onnink has recorded her memories of this moment in this story, read by Herman Onnink.
During WW I, 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 presbytery and the pastor’s house of the Christian Reformed congregation have been reserved for some Italian families who have fled from Germany.” Het Vaderland, 22 May 1915
“We received word from the eastern border: That it is by no means easy for escaped prisoners of war to cross the border is evident from a report by the Feldwebel (sergeant) stationed near the hamlet of Kotten on the border of the municipality of Winterswijk. He stated that in the last few weeks, no fewer than 70 fugitives have been apprehended in the border zone along the municipalities of Winterswijk and Aalten. Nevertheless, during that same period, approximately 20 prisoners of war—Frenchmen, Russians, Belgians, and also an Englishman—managed to reach Dutch territory in that area.” Arnhemsche Courant, 25 March 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 cavalryman-non-commissioned officer crossed the border at Aalten.” Het Nieuws van den Dag, 16 January 1917
“In Aalten we crossed the border and left for Amsterdam on Monday a German deserter with his wife, two children and a servant. The woman was born in Argentina.” The News of the Day, 23 January 1917
“At Aalten three German deserters and three French soldiers who had escaped from the camp at Mühlheim came across the border on Sunday. Among these six was the guard of the said camp, who had acted as a guide for the refugees.” The News of the Day, 20 November 1917
“In Aalten, two French prisoners of war crossed the border on Saturday. They had escaped from a camp in Friedrichsfeld.” Het Nieuws van den Dag, 10 June 1918
“Today, Friday, 316 French, 22 Belgian and 2 Italian prisoners of war were expected here from Winterswijk.” Aaltensche Courant, 29 November 1918
French refugees in the Festivities Building
Towards the end of the First World War, 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.
Zondag 27 oktober 1918 – ‘t Was een roerige zondag voor het normaal zo rustige Aalten. Zaterdag had de burgemeester bericht ontvangen dat in zijn gemeente, evenals in andere plaatsen in Gelderland, een groot aantal vluchtelingen, mannen en vrouwen, moest worden ondergebracht. In allerijl werd een vergadering bijeengeroepen van het in 1914 opgerichte Comité tot Hulp van Vluchtelingen. Besloten werd dat de mannen in gebouw Elim en de vrouwen en kinderen in het Feestgebouw zouden worden ondergebracht. Voorts werden de nodige maatregelen getroffen, om de vluchtelingen van eten en drinken te voorzien.
Zondagmiddag 13.00 uur had zich een grote menigte mensen bij het station verzameld. Op het perron bevonden zich de leden van de brandweer, om de nodige hulp bij het overbrengen van de gasten te verlenen. ’t Was een lange trein die behalve voor Aalten ook een honderd vluchtelingen voor Winterswijk en Groenlo vervoerde. De begeleider, een koopman uit Antwerpen, stapte uit en nodigde de 108 mannen die hij begeleidde uit om zijn voorbeeld te volgen. Per vier stelde men zich op, de bagage werd op een vrachtwagen geladen, en zo begaf zich de stoet, omringd door een grote menigte, naar het Feestgebouw.
Feestgebouw, (Festival Hall), Aalten
Salle Maréchal Foch
For the occasion, the Festival Hall was renamed ‘Salle Maréchal Foch‘, after France’s famous 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 packed and bagged, with directions from Aalten, via Varsseveld and Terborg to Arnhem. However, they were tracked down by the police and brought back to ‘t Feestgebouw.
Italians
In een interview met burgemeester Monnik vertelt deze nog over Italiaanse krijgsgevangenen, die in de fabriek der N.V. Textiel Mij. waren ondergebracht: “Met die Italianen beleefden we nog wat eigenaardigs. We hadden ze allemaal wat van onze prachtige zeep, waarvan we toen een heelen voorraad hadden, gegeven om zich eens frisch te kunnen wasschen, maar den volgenden dag was alle zeep door de Italianen opgegeten!“
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.
Zaterdag 16 november 1918 – In Aalten werd alles in gereedheid gebracht om de stroom Engelse vluchtelingen, die vanuit Duitsland werd verwacht, te kunnen ontvangen. In de scholen en andere gebouwen werd daartoe alles ingericht zodat er 900 man geborgen kon worden. De rest zou worden doorgezonden naar omliggende gemeenten. Om de orde te handhaven was er in Aalten een compagnie infanterie van het 22e regiment uit Ede gearriveerd. De soldaten werden ondergebracht in de openbare school aan de Herenstraat alsmede in de Chr. School aan de Bredevoortsestraatweg. De Nieuwe Aaltensche Courant voegde hieraan toe: “Voor ons anders zoo stille dorp een heele drukte!“.
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.”
In Aalten, refugees from the German prison camps also crossed the border. On Saturday, November 16, a group of 21 French refugees managed to reach Aalten. They had even already found their way to the Festival Building, where they greeted their compatriots with joy. To their disappointment, however, they were informed that they would be sent back to Germany because of the above-mentioned decision. They understandably didn’t feel like it, but they had to. As a farewell, they asked to be allowed to sing the Marseillaise with their brothers from the Festival Hall, which was granted to them 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 again! On Tuesday the prisoners of war and Wednesday morning the refugees left the Festivities, where the following grateful speech was given 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!“
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.
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.
Aaltensche Courant, 26 November 1910
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.”
A very rare 20-mark gold coin from 1888, shown here for illustrative purposes.Aaltensche Courant, 29 October 1904Aaltensche Courant, 2 May 1919
Source
‘From Aalten’s Past’, by G.H. Rots, Aaltensche Courant, 31 December 1937 (via Delpher)
In 1910, a tram line was opened from Lichtenvoorde to Bocholt, via Bredevoort and Aalten. In 1953, the tram line was discontinued and the tracks were broken up.
Around the turn of the 20th century, hundreds of Aalten residents crossed the border every day to work in one of the textile factories in the neighbouring German city of Bocholt. In all weathers, they travelled on foot, by bicycle, or by horse and carriage. Some took up to three hours to cover the (roughly) ten kilometres between home and work, both in the morning and in the evening!
Plans
As early as 1880, there were plans to extend the Lichtenvoorde–Groenlo tram line to Aalten, Varsseveld, and Terborg. By 1893, there were plans for a horse-drawn tram line from Groenlo to Lichtenvoorde, Bredevoort, Aalten, and Dinxperlo/Bocholt. In 1899, the final plan was eventually drawn up for two steam tram lines: from the Lichtenvoorde-Groenlo station to Zeddam and to Bocholt. To this end, the Geldersch-Westfaalsche Stoomtram-Maatschappij (GWSM) was established in 1905, with its head office in Lichtenvoorde.
The Bocholter Volksblatt wrote on 1 October 1907:
Holländische Arbeiter in Bocholt
“Yesterday evening, a local citizen on his way back from Aalten to Bocholt, as he informs us as a loyal subscriber, took the pleasure of counting the workers returning by bicycle from Bocholt to the border. On his way from the Kreuzkapelle to the Holtwicker Bach, he counted no fewer than 276 cyclists; he also encountered a large wagon which was also transporting workers, estimated at perhaps 40–50. In this respect, therefore, the Bocholt–Aalten light railway certainly does not have such bad prospects for ridership, especially since there will undoubtedly be many more workers who wish to come here for work.”
A year later, on 4 November 1908, the same newspaper wrote:
Dampfeisenbahn Bocholt–Aalten
“After long negotiations, the Bocholt manufacturers and other interested parties have finally succeeded, through the subscription of large sums of money, in ensuring that the Bocholt–Aalten light railway is now being built. It has now been entered into the commercial register of the local district court under Geldersch-Westfälische Dampfeisenbahn-Gesellschaft AG in Lichtenvoorde in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with a branch office in Bocholt. Hundreds of Dutch workers are employed in the local factories, who have had to cover the approximately 3-hour journey to Holland on foot or by bicycle, every morning and evening, in wind and weather. Construction of the railway will be commenced immediately.”
Festive Opening
In 1909, construction of the tram line began. However, the work suffered significant delays as a result of a major flood near Bredevoort that year. Finally, the tram line was festively opened on 29 April 1910.
It soon became apparent that only the Aalten–Bocholt section was a successful part of the GWSM. However, due to the outbreak of World War I, the border crossing was closed, making it impossible for transport to continue from Aalten to Bocholt. When this route was resumed in 1915, there were far fewer passengers than before, and it was therefore shut down completely in 1916.
From the 1920s onwards, passenger services between Aalten and Lichtenvoorde were largely operated by motor trams. This continued until 1933, when buses from the Veldhuis company began operating. After the 1930s, only freight transport proved successful (with the exception of the Aalten–Bocholt section).
In 1953, the tram line came to an end and the rails were broken up.
Steam tram Gelderland No. 406 in AaltenSteam tram at Aalten train station (photo courtesy of Hans Schutte)Patrimoniumstraat, AaltenGraafschapbode, 19 February 1910
Stops
Below is a list of stops between Lichtenvoorde and Bocholt that were located within the municipality of Aalten (click here for a list of all stops):
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“At the entrance of the current Karolingerstraße stood the factory of Cosman Cohen, and further south were the factories of Gebr. Weyl and Braunschweig.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The ‘t Walfort Estate lies between Aalten and Bredevoort. Historically, it was part of the ‘t Walfort Manor (Havezathe) and comprises woodlands, hedgerows, and wooded banks. The boundaries of the estate were marked by so-called hunting posts (jachtpalen). Today, 13 of these posts are still visible; one of them stands on the former driveway to the manor and is therefore not on the boundary of the hunting grounds. It is presumed that more posts originally surrounded ‘t Walfort.
According to the re-enacted Hunting Act of 1814, hunting grounds had to be demarcated with posts bearing the text “private hunt of” (private jagt van) followed by the owner’s name. These hunting posts marked the extent of his hunting territory.
A description by the Gelders Genootschap mentions that the hunting posts were placed around 1837/1838 by the then owner, Baron Jan van Pallandt van Walfort (1776–1844). He lived in Arnhem on the Klarenbeek estate and also purchased Angerenstein and Rennenenk in Arnhem. He was also a member of the Provincial Executive (Gedeputeerde Staten) of Gelderland.
The hunting posts are made of red sandstone, presumably sourced from quarries in the vicinity of the Weser or the Main rivers. Their total length is 2.5 to 3 metres. The posts are rectangular (approx. 25 x 20 cm) with chamfered corners. The top is a four-sided pyramid. In terms of finish, they are gefrijnd: horizontally ribbed. On one side, there is a rectangular, smoothly finished field containing the text: “Havezate Walvoort of Walfort Privative Jacht”. Several of the remaining posts are either damaged or have been shortened.
The hunting posts have been designated as a municipal monument by the municipality of Aalten.2
Map of the Free Hunting Grounds of Walfort Manor, 1836
All hunting posts in a row
The numbers of the photographs correspond with the numbers on the map above.
Historical sources reveal that Aalten was mentioned in 1152 as the parish of Aladon1. This indicates that a church existed at that time, which was presumably located on the same site as the current Oude Helenakerk. A mention from 828 (Aladna)2 is not undisputed, although such an early dating for Aalten is certainly possible from an archaeological perspective. Indeed, traces of human habitation from that period have been found both at De Hoven and on the Damstraat.
Burial Ground
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a large number of objects were collected during excavation work on Damstraat. Among the finds are 15 pots of widely varying shapes, some of which are beautifully decorated.
In 1932, under the direction of Professor A.E. van Giffen, a burial ground was uncovered in Aalten behind the Manschot factory, now Manschotplein. Spearheads, stirrups, a shield boss, several small pots, and ten silver links from a belt were found.3 It is not unlikely that these finds originate from the grave of a single warrior.
Part of the Damstraat was likely a Merovingian-Frankish burial ground around the year 800. The Merovingians were a dynasty of Frankish kings. The site has been heavily disturbed by house construction.
Belt fitting, found at Damstraat in Aalten
Medieval Cellar
Naturally, a burial ground is associated with a settlement. You will understand that we were very curious about where this settlement was located. In recent decades, a working group from the archaeological society A.D.W. has closely monitored excavation and construction activities in and around the current center of Aalten. In 1981, this resulted in the discovery of a cellar from the 12th century. The find was made in the renovated premises of what was then the Welkamp company (Bredevoortsestraatweg 5). No remains were found of the farmhouse of which the cellar was a part. However, the cellar itself yielded a wealth of information.
Because the cellar had been destroyed by fire, all objects present at the time of the fire were recovered within it. A total of six pots were found which, given their size, must have been used as storage jars. Unfortunately, five of the six pots were broken. A handle from a saucepan, in the shape of an animal head, was also found. Iron slag and a piece of lime indicate a smithy in the vicinity. It is possible that two hinges found were manufactured in this smithy.
Bone remains showed that horses, sheep or goats, cattle, and pigs were kept. Charred grain remains of oats, wheat, and rye were found in a soil sample. With this find, the mention from 1152 was archaeologically confirmed. Several imported shards from Germany point to a dating in the second quarter of the 12th century. 4
Settlement
Although this find was important in itself, no traces had yet been found of the older settlement associated with the burial ground. However, during the redevelopment of De Hoven in December 1982, traces of a Frankish-Merovingian settlement were discovered. The remains of a sunken hut from the 9th century5 are an indication that Aalten already existed at that time, albeit under a different name.
A sunken hut should be imagined as a rectangular pit topped by a gable roof. Usually, these sunken huts had a craft function (e.g., a weaving hut) or a storage function. Only the larger ones were possibly also used as dwellings.
This is what the Aalten hut bowl could have looked like (sketch made by Willem Doodeheefver)
After the sunken hut was abandoned, the pit was used as a refuse pit. A large number of bones from the same livestock as in the cellar find were discovered here. The discovery of bone remains from a deer indicates a minor role for hunting. Furthermore, charred grains and seeds such as barley, rye, emmer wheat (a prehistoric grain type), oats, lentils (possibly peas or vetch), pale-yellow hemp-nettle, goosefoot, and sheep’s sorrel were found.
From the fact that pottery types found in the sunken hut also occur in the burial ground, we may conclude that both are contemporaneous. It is therefore not far-fetched to assume that the people who lived at De Hoven buried their dead at the current Damstraat.
Second Find
In December 1992, during work at De Hoven, not far from the previous site, remains of a sunken hut were found again, this time probably dating from the 8th century. This sunken hut was found on the grounds of De Hoven where road builder Jaartsveld was carrying out excavation work for the construction of a new parking lot. 6
This sunken hut was quite small and had almost certainly been the workshop of a weaver. A groove on the side of the pattern found indicated where the loom had stood. Spindle whorls and clay balls that served as weights for the loom were also found. The sunken hut was smaller than the one discovered in 1982. That one may have been a hut where a family lived.
Archaeological research at De Hoven, 1992. Photo: Peter Rhebergen
Willem Doodeheefver, one of the amateur archaeologists involved in the research, told a reporter:
“You know it is an area in the vicinity of which something has been found before. You could see it very clearly during the excavation. Suddenly, in the red sand, the black imprints became visible where posts used to stand. That is always a huge surprise.”
The National Service for Archaeological Heritage (ROB) recognized the importance of the finds and asked the Soil Research Working Group of the Archaeological Society A.D.W. to continue the investigation. An employee of Jaartsveld specifically returned from vacation to further excavate the site using a loader. Several new finds were made during this process. Many of the aforementioned finds can be viewed in the museum on the Markt.
Origin of the place name
Several theories circulate regarding the origin of the name Aalten. But what are they based on and how credible are they? Oud Aalten delved into history to discover more about this.
Deze website gebruikt cookies voor een optimale ervaring en analyse van bezoekgegevens. Ga je hiermee akkoord? Zonder toestemming werken sommige onderdelen van de site mogelijk minder goed.
Functioneel
Always active
De technische opslag of toegang is strikt noodzakelijk voor het legitieme doel het gebruik mogelijk te maken van een specifieke dienst waarom de abonnee of gebruiker uitdrukkelijk heeft gevraagd, of met als enig doel de uitvoering van de transmissie van een communicatie over een elektronisch communicatienetwerk.
Voorkeuren
De technische opslag of toegang is noodzakelijk voor het legitieme doel voorkeuren op te slaan die niet door de abonnee of gebruiker zijn aangevraagd.
Statistieken
De technische opslag of toegang die uitsluitend voor statistische doeleinden wordt gebruikt.De technische opslag of toegang die uitsluitend wordt gebruikt voor anonieme statistische doeleinden. Zonder dagvaarding, vrijwillige naleving door je Internet Service Provider, of aanvullende gegevens van een derde partij, kan informatie die alleen voor dit doel wordt opgeslagen of opgehaald gewoonlijk niet worden gebruikt om je te identificeren.
Marketing
De technische opslag of toegang is nodig om gebruikersprofielen op te stellen voor het verzenden van reclame, of om de gebruiker op een site of over verschillende sites te volgen voor soortgelijke marketingdoeleinden.
