{"id":198224,"date":"2026-10-03T11:36:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T09:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/persoon\/wikkerink-arent-jan-2\/"},"modified":"2026-10-03T11:36:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T09:36:42","slug":"wikkerink-arent-jan-2","status":"publish","type":"persoon","link":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/person\/wikkerink-arent-jan\/","title":{"rendered":"Arent Jan Wikkerink"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Arent Jan Wikkerink was born on 15 June 1900 in Aalten<\/strong>. He would become the founder of the family business later known as Firma A.J. Wikkerink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From timber trade to paraffin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wikkerink initially worked for a timber business. He lost two fingers in an industrial accident, making it difficult for him to work with machinery. In 1922<\/strong> he therefore set up on his own as a paraffin vendor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paraffin was widely used in those years for lamps, cooking appliances and heaters. At first, Wikkerink went round to his customers with a handcart. In Aalten he became known as \u2018Petrolie Wikker\u2019<\/em>. The trade grew quickly: within a year he was able to buy a horse and cart so that he could also supply customers in the rural districts. A border permit also allowed him to cross into Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bredevoortsestraat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As his trade grew, Wikkerink was able to move into a larger house with business premises on Bredevoortsestraat, now Bredevoortsestraatweg 113<\/a>. The 1934 directory lists A.J. Wikkerink there. The location remained closely associated with the family business thereafter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His sons Henk and Albert joined the business, after which the firm continued as A.J. Wikkerink & Zonen<\/strong>. The paraffin trade expanded to include products such as paraffin heaters. In 1951 Wikkerink also took over a paraffin business in Varsseveld.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From paraffin to motor fuels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the mid-1950s, underground tanks were installed for the sale of petrol and diesel. Gas cylinders and gas appliances were also added to the range. In the early 1960s an LPG pump followed, and the company acquired a tanker to collect fuel from the refinery at Pernis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arent Jan Wikkerink thus laid the foundations for a company that would later develop into a business with filling stations, car sales, garage activities and other mobility-related services. Firma Wikkerink celebrated its centenary in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family and death<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Arent Jan Wikkerink was married to Hermina Aleida te Sligte<\/strong> (1904\u20131991). He died on 15 February 1973<\/strong>, aged 72. The couple are buried at Berkenhove Cemetery in Aalten.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arent Jan Wikkerink (1900\u20131973) was an Aalten entrepreneur who started as a paraffin vendor in 1922. From his business on Bredevoortsestraat, A.J. Wikkerink developed into a family firm in fuels and later mobility.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"class_list":["post-198224","persoon","type-persoon","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/persoon\/198224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/persoon"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/persoon"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=198224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/persoon\/198224\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=198224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}