Bernardus Gerhardus Vaags was born on 19 June 1855 at Dijkstraat 9 in Aalten, the son of Gerrit Willem Vaags and Willemina Geertruid Becking. He was the co-founder of the Becking & Vaags pipe factory and additionally held various civic and social positions. He passed away on 5 May 1936.
On 20 August 1891, he married Hermanna Johanna Petronella ten Dam in Aalten. The couple settled at Landstraat 12. Three children were born from this marriage: Gerrit Willem (1893), Elisabeth (1896) and Abraham (1902).
Vaags co-founded the Becking & Vaags pipe factory in Aalten, which developed into a flourishing enterprise within the horn-working industry – a sector that was unique within the Netherlands. When the company’s export opportunities declined after the First World War, the business was liquidated.
Alongside his commercial activities, Vaags was highly active in the community: he was a board member of the Aalten Branch of the Maatschappij tot Nut van ’t Algemeen (Society for the Public Good), and for many years served as its treasurer and representative at the general meetings. He also held the positions of chairman and secretary of the local Reading Society and was a warm supporter of the Public Library.
Furthermore, he dedicated himself to the Ten Hietbrink’s Bewaarschool (nursery school) and served as an agent for the Nederlandse Maatschappij voor Brandverzekering (Netherlands Fire Insurance Company) in Tiel, a position he held for more than 45 years.
Bernardus Gerhardus Vaags passed away in Aalten on 5 May 1936 at the age of 80. His funeral took place at the Old Cemetery on Varsseveldsestraatweg.
