Notable
Adriaan Pieter Slicher van Bath (Middelburg, 1838-06-07 – Aalten, 1933-11-18) was a local notable and benefactor who contributed significantly to the Aalten community. He had resided in Aalten since 1867 and married Johanna Geertruida (‘Nannie’) van Hopbergen (1849–1924) here in 1874. She was a daughter of the local landowner Major J.W. van Hopbergen (1817–1913).
A street and a lane in Aalten are named after this couple. On the corner of the Slicher van Bathstraat and the Bredevoortsestraatweg, we still find their former residence, villa ‘Welgelegen‘. Furthermore, every resident of Aalten is familiar with the Nannielaantje, which runs across their former estate, the ‘Smees’ property.
Offspring
Their son Willem Antonie (‘Toon’) Slicher, born in 1881, and Anna Becking, born in 1883, married in Aalten in 1908 and were the parents of Professor B.H. Slicher van Bath in Wageningen. The title ‘Van Bath’, a small seigniory at Rilland-Bath in Zeeland, was intended to be inherited by B.H. Slicher’s uncle, but was transferred to his grandson by the grandfather for personal reasons.
In memoriam
On November 20, 1933, the Zutphense Courant published this report from Aalten:
“After an illness of several months, our oldest resident, Mr. A.P. Slicher van Bath, passed away here on Saturday evening at the advanced age of 95.
Mr. Slicher van Bath, who had already lived here for a normal lifetime, sailed a large part of the world’s oceans on a sailing ship in his younger years. After initially working at the Greenwich Observatory, he was sent out on behalf of English interests to conduct meteorological observations for the benefit of sailing. During these voyages, he visited St. Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, India, Australia, and Cape Horn, among others.
After settling here, Mr. A.P. Slicher van Bath was very active in the interests of this region. Among other things, he provided the initial impetus for the establishment of the Geld. Overijselsche Mij. van Landbouw, the Coöp. Zuivelfabriek (Cooperative Dairy Factory), the gasfabriek (gasworks), and the Geld.-Overijs. Locaal Spoorweg (Local Railway). ‘Floralia’, which has now existed for over 50 years, owed its origin to Mr. Slicher. No effort or expense was too much for him when it concerned ‘Floralia’, and when he was no longer able to involve himself in its management, this association received his significant donations every summer.
For many years, Mr. Slicher was chairman and later honorary chairman of the local department of ‘t Nut, and as such, the bewaarschool (nursery school) was his great passion. This institution also benefited from his substantial financial support every year.
Mr. Slicher was also a member of the Provincial Council of Gelderland for several years. Furthermore, until his 90th year, the deceased was an observer for the Meteorological Institute in De Bilt and, until the present, a correspondent for ‘Arti et Amicitiae’.
It is certainly noteworthy that Mr. Slicher’s memory remained excellent until the very end and that he continued to take an interest in all major world events.
With the passing of Mr. Slicher van Bath, a very well-known Aalten personality is gone, and numerous associations and institutions will deeply miss his great support.
The interment will take place on Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 PM at the Oude Begraafplaats (Old Cemetery) here.”
