Dennenoord Archieven

Dennenoord 2, Aalten

‘t Walfort Swimming Pool is located halfway between Aalten and Bredevoort and features an indoor pool and an outdoor pool with a sandy bottom (natural pool). The outdoor pool was constructed during the crisis years of the last century as a job creation project. The swimming pool was initially assigned the address Hessenweg 4.

On June 10, 1933, the Aalten municipal council decided “to create a large modern Swimming and Sunbathing Pool, with a long wide beach on the Dennenoord site”. Approximately one hectare of meadow was added to that site, bringing the total area to about 4.5 ha.

Established

On July 17, 1933, the first spade went into the ground. Approximately one hundred unemployed people participated in the creation of the natural pool. In total, they moved no less than 45,000 m³ of sand using only wheelbarrows. The sand from the pool was used to raise the embankment that surrounds the pool.

The swimming pool was fed by spring water and constantly refreshed from three wells, which had been drilled to a depth of 15 meters. The excess water was diverted into a small ditch, which eventually flowed into the Slingebeek stream.

There was a pavilion that served as a simple catering facility and also housed the necessary ‘machinery’. This wooden building had served elsewhere in the municipality until 1928 as housing for the Military Police. After these police troops were withdrawn, the municipality had moved this ‘barracks’ to Dennenoord, “where it could be used by those in need of rest to enjoy the pine air.”

Opening

The Graafschapbode of June 22, 1934, contained an extensive report of the opening. Here we read, among other things, the following:

“Thus, the opening of the ‘t Walfort Swimming Pool in Aalten, located on the road between Aalten and Bredevoort, fringed by heavy trees, amidst a piece of old Achterhoek history, has now become a fact. It had been long awaited and the finishing took more time than originally expected. Now it lies there in its full glory, ready to receive thousands of visitors. At this opening, we may express our joy that this piece of work has now been put into use in such a way that we can give it our full cooperation and sympathy.”

Among the many invited guests were “the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the executors and contractors (J. de Nooij in Bennekom, who performed the ground drilling; De Vries, Harlingen sanitary works; Kroese, Enschedé: making the pulse wells; Van Lochem, Ten Have, and the other Aalten contractors and executors), Ir. Ratelband, Messrs. Tilbusscher and Rollman, the Mayors and Aldermen of Winterswijk, Wisch, Lichtenvoorde, Dinxperlo, Gendringen and Bocholt, the numbers 2 of the double lists for the board, the members of the Council, the heads of schools, Miss Ten Heuvel of the Christian Domestic Science School and Miss Vreeman, Head of the Nursery School, the Ministers, Priest, Leader of the Israelite Community, Chairman of the Christian Reformed Church, the Doctors, Veterinarians, Postmaster, National Tax Collector, Notary, Station Master, the boards of Aaltens Belang, Bredevoorts Belang and the Neighborhood Interests, the board of Floralia, the Chief Overseer and the Overseers of the Netherlands Heath Company, Dr. L.A. Veeger, Public Health Inspector in Nijmegen, Dr. Bloemendaal, Pharmaceutical Inspector in Velp, who performed the water testing also in connection with Weil’s disease, the National Inspector of Job Creation, the board of the Winterswijk Water Sports Association, the press, the Directors of the Municipal Utilities (Gas Factory, Slaughterhouse), the former Secretary, the former Aldermen Ten Dam and Obbink, the municipal police and the marechaussée, the board of the Dutch Swimming Federation and the boards of the gymnastics associations in Aalten and Bredevoort.”

Speech by Mayor Monnik

The official opening was performed by Mayor A.J.W. Monnik. In his opening speech, he said, among other things:

“Thanks to the illustrious example of our sister municipality Winterswijk, the thought also arose here: ‘would it not be possible to establish a bathing and swimming facility on our own municipal grounds?’ The world crisis, which is felt so severely in the businesses in our municipality, required our municipal administration to repeatedly look for substantial, preferably useful work projects, in order to provide labor to the many unemployed who are so sensitively affected by the crisis.”

“The local authority also has a duty to ensure the proper conduct of bathing life, so that no abuses can creep in. Under the guise of hygiene, immorality is unfortunately increasing in our country and leading to moral decay. Let us ensure that the healthy, pure, fresh air of life, given to us by God to serve Him and thus be happy, is not polluted into an atmosphere in which healthy living becomes a complete impossibility.”

Subsequently, the chairman of the ‘t Walfort Bathing and Swimming Facility Foundation, Mr. M. Ackerman, also gave a speech in which he addressed the staff of the new swimming pool, among others:

“Mr. Happel, we are pleased to welcome you as our pool manager. We also wish the other gentlemen and Miss Top that they may work pleasantly under their chief, Mr. Happel, for the prosperity of our beautiful facility.”

“While the mayor cut the ribbon, the music association De Eendracht played two verses of the Wilhelmus. Then they proceeded through the main entrance and there the beautiful foundation lay in all its beauty before the eyes of the guests. Following this, a tour of the grounds was made under the guidance of Messrs. Tilbusscher and Rollman, Municipal Architect and Municipal Overseer. Afterwards, everyone gathered in the Pavilion, where refreshments were offered and where Ir. Ratelband gave an explanation of the technical part.

At 7 o’clock this evening, all the unemployed who gave their strength to the realization through job creation have been invited with their wives. The mayor will give a speech, refreshments will also be offered to them, and then a tour of the grounds will also be made with them.”

Mixed Swimming

Mixed bathing was initially prohibited, meaning men and women each had their ‘own’ side. In 1946, a request from ‘Roman Catholic Youth and Class Organizations’ was discussed in the municipal council. The council decided, as a trial and after consultation with the swimming pool board, “that mixed swimming and staying on the beach in swimwear is permitted, provided that strict supervision is maintained and unconditional action is taken against any excesses”.

Opening on Sundays

Until 1958, ‘t Walfort swimming pool was closed on Sundays. A year earlier, a proposal to open the pool on hot Sundays had been voted down. A few weeks later, on a sweltering Sunday afternoon, hundreds of Aalten residents stormed the pool to swim en masse—contrary to the prevailing rules. In April 1958, the municipal council decided that the pool could be opened on summer Sundays from 2 to 4 o’clock.

Indoor Pool

In 1995, ‘t Walfort swimming pool was expanded with an indoor pool, consisting of a competition pool, recreational pool, instruction pool, and a toddler pool. The competition pool measures 25×12.5 meters and has five lanes.

Owners

This overview is incomplete.

Year	Plot	Owner	Description
1852	C-1540	Jan Baron van Pallandt	36,380 m² heath
1860	C-1540	Hendrik Willem Oosterman, farmer	36,380 m² heath
1874	C-1540	Jan Willem Oosterman, farmer	36,380 m² heath
1923	C-4414	The Municipality of Aalten	38,190 m² heath & pines
1937	C-4625	The Municipality of Aalten	44,040 m² swimming pool & pavilion
1968	C-5237	The Municipality of Aalten	46,836 m² natural pool, pavilion, garage
1985	P-163	The Municipality of Aalten	8,570 m² house, forest, swimming pool, cultivated land