1917–2007
Personal details
- Forenames
- Anton
- Surname
- Kuijsten
- Born
- Huizen, 5 October 1917
- Died
- Winterswijk, 27 November 2007
- Buried
- Berkenhove General Cemetery, Aalten
- Grave number
- I / 9
- 5 October 1917
Born
HuizenFind a Grave
- from 1954
Occupation / role
Head teacher
- from 1954
Worked for
- 27 November 2007
Died
WinterswijkFind a GraveBuried: Berkenhove General Cemetery, Aalten · grave I / 9Find a Grave
Sources
Antonie (Anton) Kuijsten (1917–2007) was a teacher and headteacher in Aalten, as well as a self-taught woodcarver, draughtsman and watercolourist. From its founding until his retirement, he led the Reformed (Hervormde) School Aalten-Zuid (later renamed De Broekhof). His surname is also frequently spelt as Kuysten.
Kuijsten was born on 5 October 1917 in Huizen. His mother passed away when he was eight years old, but thanks to the way his father supported the family and the live-in housekeeper who remained with them for a long time, he still enjoyed a happy childhood.
After graduating from the teacher training college (kweekschool) in Amsterdam, Kuijsten taught at various locations, including Naarden, Muiden, Rheden—where he met his future wife—and Zutphen. During the final months of the occupation, he went into hiding to avoid being forced to work for the occupying forces. On 11 April 1947, he married Hendrina Groenewoud in Rheden.
When the second Dutch Reformed School Aalten-Zuid opened in 1954 (later the Broekhofschool) he was appointed headteacher. Kuijsten was known as a gifted storyteller who brought history lessons to life “as if he had been there himself”. In 1967, the family lived at Wilhelminastraat 4 in Aalten. He was also very active in the Protestant congregation: for more than twenty years he led the children’s church in Aalten-Zuid and for a time served as an elder.
Alongside his teaching career, Kuijsten developed his skills as a self-taught woodcarver, draughtsman and painter. In addition to watercolours, he produced drawings using liquid watercolour (ecoline). He also created items such as birthday calendars. He is featured in the book Kunstig Aalten (2021), an overview of artists from Aalten compiled by Leo van der Linde.
The sudden death of his wife in 1987 was a severe blow. For several years he put down his brush and pencil, but fortunately later resumed his work. In the final stage of his life, his health became increasingly fragile. After a stay in hospital in Winterswijk and a short period at’t Hoge Veld, he eventually died in hospital. His funeral took place on 1 December 2007, following a service of thanksgiving at the Old St Helen’s Church in Aalten. He was laid to rest at Berkenhove Cemetery.
Work
A selection of works by Anton Kuijsten:
