Nannielaantje, Aalten

The Aaltensche Courant wrote on 1 June 1948:

The history of the old burial mound at the Nannielaantje in Aalten

Walking into the „Nannielaantje” from the Haartsestraat (known to older residents of Aalten as „Smeeslaantje”) and crossing the narrow bridge, one sees on the left, roughly opposite the „Aalten’s Belang” bench in the meadow, a square mound. It is overgrown with several heavy oaks and surrounded by ditches, which have gradually become almost level with the surrounding land.

Most residents of Aalten will not know what this square mound actually is, and few are aware that it is an old burial mound, let alone any further details.

Having happened upon the „Deed of Foundation” for this cemetery recently, it seemed interesting to share some information with readers, for the well-known „hump” in the Nannielaantje is indeed a burial ground.

A former mayor of Aalten, C. C. Stumph, strongly disagreed with the continued practice of burying people in and around churches. Consequently, he created his own burial place in the „Smees meadows”. In the „Deed of Foundation”, dated 2 May 1818, everything is precisely described. The maintenance of this cemetery was arranged and the compensation for it established.

Including the entire „Deed of Foundation” would require too much space. A few passages follow here:

„After my death, I wish and desire to be of no harm to my fellow man. However, as our National Government remains backward in—as in Germany, France, Italy, and elsewhere—ceasing burials within Churches and in Churchyards within towns and referring them to more spacious burial grounds outside: I have, so that my earthly remains may be entrusted to the Earth undisturbed! and my Bones may rest in Peace, already for several years, caused a Private Outdoor Cemetery to be prepared for myself in one of the Smees meadows, specifically the one against Smees Hoflanden.

This small plot of ground, my property, I will and desire that after my death, it shall be respected and honoured as a Sanctuary in a certain respect, by whomsoever, be it my Heir or Heirs, or legal successor! Declaring the same hereby as forever inalienable and untransferable.

And so that this Cemetery, in the order it currently is, or shall be at my passing, be continuously maintained annually in the future, I attach and bind to it (for and to settle the costs of that maintenance) that dagmat [day’s mowing] of land in which it is situated.

Met welker onderhoud en in orde houding na mijn overlijden, de bewoners of bewoners van ’t op Smees staande woonhuis, zullen zijn en blijven belast ! die ook daarvoor het jaarlijks provenu van dien Dachmaayens-grond of wel het (…), en ‘t weiland beiderzijds langs de tot dien dachmaaiens-gehoorende gravens en langs de beek tegen dien grond groeyende weekhout-gewas, onontgeldelijk zal of zullen genieten; tevens met promissie om ’t gras op die Begraafplaats, en ook der daartoe en tot dien dach dachmaayens-gehoorende gravens tweemaal ’s jaars te mogen afsnijden en benuttigen echter met besparing der daar op zijnde treurwilgen of ander struik- of blomgewassen, als een uitzondering van ’t vorenomschreven weekhout zijnde en bovendien nog het regt om twee koeijen in die weide nadat het gras zal gemaaid zijn, in het Et- of nagras, met de Beesten, door of namens den Eigenaar dier weide daarin gebragt wordende, alsmede onontgeltelijk te mogen inrijven en doen weiden”.

In the remainder of the document, the minister of the Reformed Church was charged with supervision. „The Minister or Ministers of the Reformed Congregation of Aalten at the time are invited and urgently requested to kindly take upon themselves the Supervisions! Granting for that purpose the faculty, in the event of no proper maintenance and supervision: without any consultation or notice, to entrust that maintenance with the attached enjoyment thereof to a more diligent and vigilant subject!”

After several further provisions, the deed ends as follows: „Thus disposed and drawn up this second of May 1818, following his signature, was signed: C. C. Stumph.” This Mayor Stumph, who passed away a few years later, is not the only person buried here.

Information regarding this was received from a relative who still possesses the old Bible and other family papers:

Een zuster van burgemeester Stumph, Christina Petronella, geb. in 1786, was gehuwd met een zekere Johan Christiaan Rost, geb. 15-12- 1766. (Deze Rost kwam oorspronkelijk uit Duitsland. Hij woonde op „’t Smees”, dat later verkocht werd aan de heer Slicher van Bath). Deze stierven resp. in 1827 en 1835 en werden ook beiden op „’t Smees” begraven.

The Rost-Stumph couple had 4 children:

1. Henriette Willemina Christina Theodora, geb. 21-6-1817 (deze trouwde later met Dr. Servaas van Leuven, de vader van wijlen Dr. Adriaan van Leuven).
2. Willemina Johanna, born 11-06-1819
3. Louisa Benjamina
4. Elisa Charlotte, born 13-03-1823

Twee van deze kinderen, nl. Willemina Johanna en Elisa Charlotte sterven resp. in 1835 en 1826 en werden ook beiden op ’t „Smees” begraven. Dr. Servaas van Leuven had 10 kinderen. Hij woonde in het pand Bredevoortsestraat, waar nu de Volksslagerij gevestigd is. Van deze 10 kinderen stierven er twee op zeer jeugdige leeftijd en werden ook weer op „’t Smees” begraven. Dit waren:

1. Johannes Adrianes, born 23-03-1839 and died 06-04-1840
2. Karel, born 10-01-1861 and died 18-08-1862

These were therefore two brothers of Dr Adriaan van Leuven.

It is therefore known with certainty that 7 people are buried at the „’t Smees” cemetery. It is understood that there are plans to provide a fence for this old burial mound, which is now often used as a playground by the youth.