Old Aalten

Category: Almshouse

  • Gasthuis (Almshouse) Bredevoort

    Gasthuis (Almshouse) Bredevoort

    For centuries, the Gasthuis (also referred to as the Armenhuis or almshouse) served as a refuge for the poor, the sick, and the elderly in Bredevoort. From 1641 until approximately 1930, the institution occupied various locations within the city walls. The current Gasthuisstraat owes its name to this establishment.

    The house of Misslich (Agnietenhuis)

    Almshouse / Agnieten House, Bredevoort
    Almshouse / Agnieten House (Mislich’s house)

    The earliest known mention of an almshouse in Bredevoort dates to 1641. It occupied the old borgmanshuis (a fortified town house) and the orchard behind it, formerly belonging to Wolf Mislich, then Governor of the Lordship of Bredevoort. In 1639, Mislich drafted a will bequeathing his house and entire estate—valued at 15,000 guilders, a significant fortune at the time—to the poor relief of Bredevoort.

    Following his death in 1639, the will was executed, giving rise to the local saying: “De armen van Bredevoort bunt rieke” (The poor of Bredevoort are rich).

    The House of Misslich, also known as the Agnietenhuis, was presumably located in the vicinity of the later Ambthuis. Rental income from the property benefited the poor, and besides the Widow Mislich, two other families lived in the main house, while three smaller dwellings in the backyard were occupied by the needy.

    Gasthuis Bredevoort, 't Walletje
    The location of the second almshouse on ‘t Walletje

    ‘t Walletje

    Around 1800, records regarding the Mislich house become silent. An 1832 cadastral map shows the ‘Armen Gasthuis van Bredevoord’ located at ’t Walletje, in the extension of the Vismarkt (cadastral plots B126-B129). This complex consisted of four dwellings, ranging in size from 22 to 26 m².

    Gasthuisstraat

    The third and final almshouse was built in 1844 on the Gasthuisstraat and consisted of eight dwellings. The land was purchased from the Hof van Barnsveld, a former borgmanshuis.

    On 14 August 1879, this building burned down completely, though it was subsequently repaired. In 1911, the almshouse underwent a thorough renovation, though it remained incomplete; the houses were eventually sold off and demolished one by one. In 1897, the Sint Bernardus building was purchased, where nursing care was provided around the turn of the century.

    Almshouse Bredevoort – Fragment cadastral map, 1847
    The Almshouse at the Gasthuisstraat – Fragment cadastral map, 1847
    Almshouse Bredevoort burned down – De Tijd, 18-08-1879
    De Tijd, 18 August 1879
    Gasthuisstraat, Bredevoort – Fragment cadastral map, 1934
    Fragment cadastral map, 1934 (plot B-884/885)

    Residents

    Population registers recorded each household on separate cards. Below is an overview of the inhabitants of the almshouse on the Gasthuisstraat over time:

    Period 1838-1850

    282828282828
    Maria Catharina Harmsen
    (Winterswijk, 26-01-1787)    		Johanna Hendrika Lindeman
    (Bredevoort, 04-12-1786)    		Andries Willemsen
    (Bredevoort, 14-08-1790)    		Janna Geertruid Meinen
    (Bredevoort, 06-01-1789)    		Jan Hendrik Duenk
    (Bredevoort, 17-10-1810)    		Fredrik Boom
    (Bredevoort, 24-03-1797)

    Period 1850-1860

    2828a28b28c28d28e28f28g
    Janna Geertruid Meinen
    (Bredevoort, 06-01-1789)    		Johanna Hendrika Lindeman
    (Bredevoort, 04-12-1786)    		Hendrikus Kempink
    (Bredevoort, 16-09-1815)    		Jan Hendrik Duenk
    (Bredevoort, 17-10-1810)    		Fredrik Boom
    (Bredevoort, 24-03-1797)    		Toni Blekking
    (Aalten, 15-07-1798)    		Andries Willemsen
    (Bredevoort, 14-08-1790)    		Gerrit Jan Sikking
    (Bredevoort, 14-10-1792)
    Hendrika Aleida Kalf
    (Aalten, 23-05-1822)    		Jan Willemsen
    (Bredevoort, 28-02-1802)

    Period 1860-1870

    2828a28b28c28d28e
    Hendrikus Kempink
    (Bredevoort, 16-09-1815)    		Jan Hendrik Duenk
    (Bredevoort, 17-10-1810)    		Hendrika Aleida Kalf
    (Aalten, 23-05-1822)    		Toni Blekking
    (Aalten, 15-07-1798)    		Jan Willemsen
    (Bredevoort, 28-02-1802)    		Gerrit Jan Sikking
    (Bredevoort, 14-10-1792)
    Grada Meinen
    (Aalten, 11-12-1797)

    Period 1870-1880

    30/130/230/330/430/530/630/730/8
    Mina Helmig
    (Bredevoort, 05-07-1824)    		Christina ten Pas
    (Winterswijk, 21-08-1812)    		Hendrikus Kempink
    (Bredevoort, 16-09-1815)    		Hendrika Aleida Kalf
    (Aalten, 23-05-1822)    		Jan Hendrik Duenk
    (Bredevoort, 17-10-1810)    		Janna Geertruid te Slaa
    (Winterswijk, 05-04-1802)    		Jan Willemsen
    (Bredevoort, 28-02-1802)    		Berendina Villekes
    (Bredevoort, 26-06-1800)
    Johanna Ribbink
    (Winterswijk, 01-08-1810)    		Theodora Berendina Grotenhuis
    (Henxel, 01-01-1829)    		Berendina Hijink
    (Lichtenvoorde, 19-06-1834)    		Derk Willem Bloemers
    (Woold, 10-02-1821)

    Period 1880-1890

    38/138/238/338/438/538/638/738/8
    Johanna Ribbink
    (Winterswijk, 01-08-1810)    		Berendina Hijink
    (Lichtenvoorde, 19-06-1834)    		Theodora Berendina Grotenhuis
    (Henxel, 01-01-1829)    		Christina ten Pas
    (Winterswijk, 21-08-1812)    		Jan Hendrik Duenk
    (Bredevoort, 17-10-1810)    		Derk Willem Bloemers
    (Woold, 10-02-1821)    		Gerritjen Duenk
    (Lichtenvoorde, 28-01-1824)    		Frans Julius Römer
    (Mittweida/D, 02-11-1815)
    Willemina Kwak
    (Wisch, 04-04-1829)    		Berendina Villekes
    (Bredevoort, 26-06-1800)    		Mina Helmig
    (Bredevoort, 05-07-1824)    		Hendrika Harmina Schoppers
    (Dale, 09-11-1821)
    Geertruid Kobus
    (Winterswijk, 02-08-1842)    		Jan Hendrik Grotenhuis
    (Henxel, 22-07-1832)    		Gerritjen Dina Scholtz
    (Aalten, 31-12-1834)
    Janna Berendina Dreijers
    (Aalten, 25-05-1833)

    Period 1890-1900

    30/130/230/330/430/530/630/730/8
    Johanna Ribbink
    (Winterswijk, 01-08-1810)    		Berendina Hijink
    (Lichtenvoorde, 19-06-1834)    		Geertruid Kobus
    (Winterswijk, 02-08-1842)    		Janna Berendina Dreijers
    (Aalten, 25-05-1833)    		Jan Hendrik Duenk
    (Bredevoort, 17-10-1810)    		Mina Helmig
    (Bredevoort, 05-07-1824)    		Gerritjen Duenk
    (Lichtenvoorde, 28-01-1824)    		Gerritjen Dina Scholtz
    (Aalten, 31-12-1834)
    Janna Geertruid te Wieske
    (Winterswijk, 11-11-1840)    		Gerrit Hendrik Mengerink
    (Neede, 07-01-1851)    		Harmen Jan Piek
    (Aalten, 09-03-1826)    		Maria Hendrika Slats
    (Aalten, 03-05-1823)    		Geertruid Kobus
    (Winterswijk, 02-08-1842)    		Gerrit Hendrik Piek
    (Vragender, 24-08-1834)
    Gerrit Hendrik Piek
    (Vragender, 24-08-1834)
    Janna Berendina Dreijers
    (Aalten, 25-05-1833)

    Period 1900-1910

    2727/327/427/527/627/7
    Janna Berendina Dreijers
    (Aalten, 25-05-1833)    		Harmen Jan Piek
    (Aalten, 09-03-1826)    		Maria Hendrika Slats
    (Aalten, 03-05-1823)    		Geertruid Kobus
    (Winterswijk, 02-08-1842)    		Gerrit Hendrik Piek
    (Vragender, 24-08-1834)    		Gerritjen Dina Scholtz
    (Aalten, 31-12-1834)
    Tonia Gesiena Oonk
    (Miste, 05-09-1869)
    Jan Derk Wilterdink
    (Miste, 02-11-1860)

    Period 1910-1920

    28/528/7
    Geertruid Kobus
    (Winterswijk, 02-08-1842)    		Gerritjen Dina Scholtz
    (Aalten, 31-12-1834)

    Owners

    Overview is incomplete.

    YearPlotOwnerDescription
    1832B-76Anthony Lurvink, merchant690 m² house, sched & garden
    1847B-258the Reformed Diaconate of Bredevoort199 m² almshouse & garden

    Sources

  • Reformed Almshouse

    Reformed Almshouse

    Haartsestraat 14-18, Aalten

    Gasthuisstraat, Aalten

    The Almshouse (‘Gasthuis’) was an institution run by the Reformed diaconate (charitable board) located on what was then Gasthuisstraat, now known as Haartsestraat, in Aalten.

    On the 1832 land registry map (cadastre) shown on the right, the exact location is visible, situated approximately where Haartsestraat 14 to 18 stands today.

    Bovenstaande foto toont de Gasthuisstraat rond 1900. Rechts, voorbij de burgemeesterswoning – het latere postkantoor – zien we nog net een gedeelte van het Gasthuis. Helemaal achteraan zien we ook nog net het Luutenshuus.

    The Almshouse contained ten rooms on the street side and ten on the garden side, each with a floor area of 17 to 22 m². Each room was equipped with two box-beds (bedsteden). Occupants shared a privaat (toilet) between several rooms. In the garden, many residents also kept a ‘sikkestal’ (a small shed for a goat).

    The residents were not only among the poorest members of the population but were also generally the least educated. Consequently, the Almshouse and its surroundings were frequently the scene of shouting matches and petty quarrels. The residents were often the targets of harassment by the local youth of Aalten.

    One of the residents would deliver wheelbarrows of fine white sand door-to-door for a penny, which people used to strew across their stone floors. Once he had earned a few pence, he would quickly spend it on a borrel (a small glass of gin) before starting to ‘save up’ for the next one.

    In 1904 werd het Gasthuis afgebroken. De oudjes er op dat moment nog woonden verhuisden naar het Rusthuis aan de Hogestraat.

    Owners

    This overview is incomplete.

    YearPlotOwnerDescription
    1832I1116 – I1135the Reformed Poor of Aalten

    House Numbering

    In the population register, every room or household is listed on a separate family card. The overview below provides links to the first family card in the population register for each period that corresponds to the almshouse on Haartsestraat. From there, one can browse further to find all residents for that specific timeframe.

    An extensive table listing all residents is planned for the future to assist genealogists in identifying former occupants. Please note: records may contain errors.

    18231838185018601870188018901900
    235263263263290333329395

    Catholic Almshouse

    Aalten had vroeger ook nog een katholiek gasthuis. Het Armenpad tussen de Hogestraat en de Stationsstraat, één van de typisch Aaltense Gängeskes, herinnert hier nog aan.

    Features

    Cadastral no.I-8761/8762/
    13144/13140
    FunctionAlmshouse
    Year of constructionunknown
    Demolition1904
    Almshouse Aalten – Land Registry, 1832
    Land Registry 1832, Source: hisgis.nl
    Haartsestraat, Aalten (Dutch Reformed Almshouse) – Fragment cadastral map, 1905
    Fragment cadastral map, 1905
    Almshouse, Aalten – Zutphensche Courant, 19 March 1883
    Zutphensche Courant, 19 March 1883
    Almshouse, Aalten – Nieuwe Winterswijksche Courant, 25 May 1904
    Nieuwe Winterswijksche Courant, 25 May 1904
    Almshouse, Aalten – Aaltensche Courant, 9 July 1904
    Aaltensche Courant, 9 July 1904

    Sources

    • Aaltensche Courant, 9 July 1904 (Delpher)
    • ‘Aalten in oude ansichten’ – part 2, E.M. Smilda
    • ECAL
    • Cadastral map
    • Nieuwe Winterswijksche courant, 25 May 1904 (Delpher)
    • ‘From Aalten’s past’, G.H. Rots, Aaltensche Courant, 19 November 1937 (Delpher)
  • Roman Catholic Almshouse

    Roman Catholic Almshouse

    Armenpad / Hogestraat, Aalten

    Roman Catholic Almshouse, Aalten 1860–1937
    Photo courtesy of J. Flach

    Het Armenpad, dat de Hogestraat en de Stationsstraat met elkaar verbindt, is één van de typisch Aaltense Gängeskes. De naam herinnert aan het rooms-katholieke gasthuis (armenhuis) dat hier ooit stond.

    Dit armenhuis bestond uit acht kamers van elk 4 bij 4 meter en stond op grond van Dr. Hartman. De bewoners ontvingen steun van de Rooms-Katholieke Kerk, die hen voorzag van kleding en voedsel. Daarnaast hadden ze een klein tuintje, waarin ze bijvoorbeeld een geit konden houden. In 1937 kwam er een einde aan het gasthuis, toen de familie Hartman besloot de bewoners niet langer op hun grond te laten wonen.1

    Around 1912, the eight dwellings were reconfigured into four dwellings.

    Behalve het katholieke gasthuis had Aalten vroeger ook een hervormd gasthuis aan de huidige Haartsestraat.

    Newspaper reports 2

    Aaltensche Courant, 4 March 1899
    Aaltensche Courant, 4 March 1899
    Roman Catholic Almshouse – Aaltensche Courant, 5 March 1937
    Aaltensche Courant, 5 March 1937
    Roman Catholic Almshouse – Aaltensche Courant, 7 May 1937
    Aaltensche Courant, 7 May 1937

    Features

    Cadastral No.3I-11345
    FunctionAlmshouse
    Year of construction1860
    Demolition1937
    Roman Catholic Almshouse – Fragment cadastral map, 1860
    Fragment cadastral map, 1860
    Roman Catholic Almshouse – Fragment cadastral map, 1913
    Fragment cadastral map, 1913 4

    Owners

    Overview is incomplete.

    YearPlotOwnerDescription
    1860I-2540-2547the Roman Cath.
    poor of Aalten    		14 m² house-yard (8x)
    1883I-2540 (87)
    I-2541 (87a)
    I-2542 (87b)
    I-2543 (87c)
    I-2544 (87d)
    I-2545 (87e)
    I-2546 (87f)
    I-2547 (87g)    		the Roman Cath.
    poor of Aalten    		14 m² house & yard (8x)
    including house numbers,
    between brackets after
    plot number)
    1894I-4581the Roman Cath.
    poor of Aalten    		1.600 m² almshouse, barn & yard
    1913I-4581the Roman Cath.
    poor of Aalten    		1,700 m² house, almshouse, barn and yard
    1914I-5615
    I-5616    		the Roman Cath.
    poor of Aalten    		40 m² almshouse
    1.660 m² house, barn and farmland

    Residents

    The overview below contains a link to the corresponding family card in the population register for each period and room/household from 1860 to 1910.5 6 What we noticed: it appears that residents occasionally changed rooms; the residents were mostly single women (widows); and many had Bocholt as their place of birth. Our research is still ongoing, errors excepted!

    1860Resident(s)1870Resident(s)1880Resident(s)1890Resident(s)1900Resident(s)1910Resident(s)1934Resident(s)
    88M. Kalb,
    A. Huls    		87/1A. Huls97/1A. Bekink,
    J.A.H. Bloemers    		90/1J.A.H. Bloemer,
    J.G. Stritholt,
    B.J.M. Berendsen
    & 5 kinderen    		112/1J.A.H. BloemerA142/1A143a
    87/2A.H. Huitink97/2A.H. Huitink90/2J.A.H. Bloemer112/2E. GeuringA142/2A.J. HubersA143bA.J. Hubers
    88H. Buiel,
    G. Veenhuis    		87/3G. Veenhuis,
    J.A.H. Bloemers    		97/3W. Jansen90/3J. Stöckert,
    J.C. Antink    		112/3J.G. StritholtA142/3M.M. BoekwinkelA143cWed. A.H. Sauer
    89H. Unland87/4H. Unland97/4H. Unland90/4P. Lorijn,
    J.G. Stritholt    		112/4T. HulsA142/4A143dWed. J.G. Albers
    89L. ten Haken87/5L. ten Haken,
    A. Bekink    		97/5Harmina Bennink90/5H. Bennink,
    T. Huls    		112/5No mention
    (found).    		A142/5
    89J.E. Benning87/6J.E. Benning,
    J.E. Bokkers    		97/6J.A.H. Bloemer90/6C. Bartholomeus,
    E. Geuring    		112/6A.E. Doinck,
    A.J. Hubers
    & W.G. Hubers    		A142/6
    97/7J.E. Bokkers90/7No mention
    (found).    		112/7Harm Bakker
    87/6A.H.E. Gintherr97/8A.H.E. Gintherr90/8A.E. Doinck112/8No mention
    (found).

    Sources

    1. R. de Boer, in response to Facebook page Old Aalten ↩︎
    2. Delpher ↩︎
    3. Cadastral map ↩︎
    4. Land Registry ↩︎
    5. WieWasWie (WhoWasWho) ↩︎
    6. ECAL ↩︎