{"id":142485,"date":"2021-08-08T14:10:47","date_gmt":"2021-08-08T12:10:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oudaalten.nl\/niet-gecategoriseerd\/st-elisabeths-convent\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T20:43:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T18:43:23","slug":"st-elisabeths-convent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/aalten\/st-elisabeths-convent\/","title":{"rendered":"St Elisabeth’s Convent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dijkstraat 8, Aalten<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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The Elisabeth Monastery in Aalten was originally the residence of textile manufacturer Johann Heinrich Joseph (Heinrich) Driessen<\/a> (Bocholt, 10\/07\/1794 \u2013 Aalten, 04\/07\/1879). On 29 June 1837, his eldest son Theodoor laid the foundation stone. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heinrich was also known as \u201cDen veursten Driessen\u201d (The front Driessen); his cousin Anton<\/a> also lived on what was then Landstraat, in Villa Beekhuize<\/a>, slightly further south of the town centre, and was therefore known as \u201cd\u2019n achtersten Dreessen\u201d (The rear Driessen). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business premises were also established on the property, which served primarily as storage for yarns and woven fabrics. These fabrics were transported by wagon, usually pulled by an ox, to the bleachery in Dale<\/a>. The driver carried the fitting nickname \u2018Ossen Willem\u2019 (Ox Willem). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Heinrich\u2019s death, the house came into the possession of the Roman Catholic Church, after which it was put into use as a convent for nuns. On 30 May 1882, six sisters were brought to Aalten from Lichtenvoorde-Groenlo station in a carriage drawn by four horses. The convent was named after Heinrich\u2019s wife, Elisabeth. Locally, it was also referred to as the St Elisabeth Institute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Education and Nursing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For eighty years, the sisters provided education here to the Catholic school children of Aalten. The sisters\u2019 \u2018sewing and knitting school\u2019 was also based there. Not everyone held pleasant memories of the nuns. The sewing and knitting school, later the Fashion Vocational School<\/a>, was highly regarded. Partly for this reason, it was not only Catholics who knitted there, but people of all denominations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 23 December 1962, the last sisters left for a convent in Bennebroek. Later, the convent served as accommodation for guest workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 20 December 1980, a small fire broke out in the completely boarded-up building. Just as a \u2018foundation stone\u2019 had once been laid, the last stone was removed shortly after the fire. The building made way for the Parish Centre. This has since disappeared as well and has been replaced by an apartment building named \u2018Kloosterhof\u2019 (Convent Court). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Zutphensche Courant, 30 May 1932 (link<\/a>):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AALTEN, 29 May \u2013 Tomorrow, the 30th, will mark 50 years since the Franciscan Sisters of St. Lucia, Rotterdam (now the Motherhouse Bennebroek) arrived in Aalten. This event will be solemnly commemorated. Following Holy Mass, a large general reception will be held starting from 10 o’clock. On 30 May 1882, the sisters were met in Lichtenvoorde by Parish Priest P. Bosman and Mr Eduard Driessen. The procession was conducted in carriages drawn by pairs of horses. The J. H. J. Driessen family made their house and grounds available to the sisters. A nursery and sewing school were established here immediately. On 1 August 1884, primary education for girls commenced, followed by education for boys in July 1886. The school currently has 258 pupils, and the nursery school has 68. In the fashion vocational school<\/a>, newly built in 1928, instruction is given to 30 girls in summer and 60 in winter. One of the sisters, namely Sister Hubertina<\/a>, has been here in Aalten since 30 June 1884. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Owners<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overview is incomplete.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year<\/th>Plot<\/th>Owner<\/th>Description<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1832<\/td>I-1208<\/td>Peter Driessen, merchant in Bocholt<\/em><\/td>410 m\u00b2 house & yard<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Residents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1813<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aalten 45<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gerrit Peters<\/strong> (Heerde, 25-07-1769), tanner<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 man1 woman1 son4 daughters1 old woman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population register 1823-1838<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aalten 45<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gerrit Peters<\/strong> (Heerde, 24-09-1769), tanner<\/em>Johanna Margreta ten Dam<\/strong> (Aalten, 29-10-1774)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next residents:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Johan Hend. Joseph Driessen<\/strong> (Bocholt\/D, 10-07-1794), merchant<\/em>Marie Carolina Elisabeth Str\u00e4ter<\/strong> (Rheine\/D, 13-03-1803)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population register 1838-1850<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aalten 44<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johan Henrich Joseph Driessen<\/strong> (Bocholt\/D, 10-07-1794), manufacturer & merchant<\/em>Marie Caroline Elisabeth Str\u00e4ter<\/strong> (Rheine\/D, 13-03-1803)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population register 1850-1860<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aalten 44<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johan Henrich Joseph Driessen<\/strong> (Bocholt\/D, 10-07-1794), merchant<\/em>Maria Carolina Elisabeth Str\u00e4ter<\/strong> (Rheine\/D, 13-03-1803)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population register 1860-1870<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aalten 44<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johan Henrich Joseph Driessen<\/strong> (Bocholt\/D, 10-07-1794), manufacturer<\/em>Maria Carolina Elisabeth Josephina<\/strong> Str\u00e4ter<\/strong> (Rheine\/D, 13-03-1803)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population register 1870-1880<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aalten 61<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johann Heinrich Joseph Driessen<\/strong> (Bocholt\/D, 10-07-1794), manufacturer<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next (head) resident (1879-1882):<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bernhard Heinrich Groot Langenhoff<\/strong> (Dingden\/D, 13-09-1833), servant<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population register 1880-1890<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aalten 66<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bernhard Heinrich Groot Langenhoff<\/strong> (Dingden\/D, 13-09-1833), farmer<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next (head) resident (1882-1901):<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Barbara Elizabeth Elzeman<\/strong> (Gouda, 06-10-1835), sister of charity<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population register 1890-1900<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aalten 65<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barbera Elisabeth Elseman<\/strong> (Gouda, 06-10-1835)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population register 1900-1910<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aalten 82 > A20<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barbera Elisabeth Elseman<\/strong> (Gouda, 06-10-1835)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next (head) resident:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Geertje Ruijter<\/strong> (Westwoud, 08-01-1857)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population register 1910-1920<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aalten A20<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geertje Ruijter<\/strong> (Westwoud, 08-01-1857), Mother Superior<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next (head) resident:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Aalten A20 > A6<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aafke van der Werf<\/strong> (Bolsward, 21-10-1872), nurse<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address directory 1934<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aalten A6 > Dijkstraat 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Convent<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address directory 1967<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dijkstraat 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Convent<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Features<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Cadastral no.<\/td>I-11429<\/td><\/tr>
Function<\/td>Residential,Convent<\/td><\/tr>
Year of construction<\/td>1837<\/td><\/tr>
Demolition<\/td>ca. 1981<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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