De Volksvriend, 12 October 1950
Travelogue of a Dutch emigrant, Hendrik Jan Tuininga, who visits the old homeland – and also Aalten – with his wife and daughter .
In the last 4 years, many former Dutchmen living in America have made this trip, either over England or by “Holland America Line“. Many of these have no urge to report in a newspaper about what trip they had, or how they found the old homeland with their family and friends. And yet, if there is anyone who wants to do the pleasure of the “Friend of the People” to report something about it, I never skip reading such travel descriptions. For the latter reason, and because the Friend of the People also wants to give its readers of such a nature, I have also proceeded to recount our journey, which my wife and I and our youngest daughter Gertrude, did with the three of us, here.
Departure from Orange City
On Friday afternoon about 2 o’clock we were leaving Orange City, when our son Harry van Boyden picked us up and brought us on the train in the evening, which left 6.01 from Sheldon. In Madison the train stopped for coffee for 20 minutes, it was then 5.10 a.m. It was wet everywhere on the land. We stopped for a few days with our son in Chicago, and after seeing some peculiarities, we went by train to Hoboken, and stopped another night in Paterson, and saw New York a little, and went on board the “Nieuw Amsterdam” on the 28th of April, a huge ship, 700 feet long and 108 feet wide. I think this boat is 60 to 70 feet high from the steering bridge to the waterline.
We heard that the Society had made 16 million last year. The travel costs are high, but the food and service is rata. In 1908 we gave 200 guilders for a ticket per person from Rotterdam to Rock Valley, lowa, then 80 dollars and per second class. The weather was also nice, and one has this free of charge, and then one can enjoy the other thing. One then makes pleasant acquaintance with many passengers, with some so that one never forgets each other. We had Sunday morning service of the Word, by a businessman.
It was Saturday morning, May 6, when we moored at the pier in Rotterdam of the Holland America Line. First our luggage checked by the commies and then our return tickets were arranged. Then we saw my sister Mrs. W. Obbink van Aalten soon and after having lunch in a café, we went together to the Maas station by taxi, to get off at 4 o’clock in the afternoon at Aalten, Gelderland.
Aalten
In Aalten and surrounding villages we saw many houses missing among the others, which had been bombed and many where they were building and many were also finished. The ordinances there are such that when a new house is built, it must be absolutely modern. But in old houses, even if they are neat houses, almost everything is still primitive. In Arnhem, where there was also so much bombing, almost everything has been rebuilt.
In Aalten we went to church on Sundays, where so many boys were picked up by the Germans on a Sunday afternoon for the labour camps. In Aalten, street sermons are held every Saturday evening at half past eight in the summer, in turn; one Saturday evening by the pastor of the Geref. Church, Mr. Jan Nawijn and the following Saturday evening by one of the Darbist brothers. I enjoyed both.
There are three large church buildings in Aalten that belong to the Reformed; a large Reformed church; a Darbist meeting and a Roman Catholic church and a Synagogue. As far as I know, there are none in Aalten who belong to the resigned. Aalten is religious in every way.
The surroundings of Aalten are beautiful. I have never seen such a tree growth anywhere. Oak trees so beautiful and straight and a whole beautiful avenue.
The conditions of the worker have improved enormously compared to 50 years ago. At a certain age, they are provided with a pension. The civil servants with 55 years, the ordinary workman 60 and 65 and then it is not allowed to work with others, which is paid. There is also a free Saturday afternoon in the Netherlands. Almost everything can be bought freely again, everything, except coffee. People live generously again, a big difference from the past. Cake and candy are well used. Coffee is scarce and is therefore drunk with 8/10ths hot milk.
There was a nervous thought about the Communists. And they all wanted to go to America. We have recommended it to few.
Amsterdam
We visited the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. This is one of the most beautiful cities in Holland, with its four large long canals, Prinsengracht, Keizergracht, Heerengracht and Singel and with its many bridges. Is there any city in the world that has so many bridges? Amsterdam can regulate its own water level, because it has a complete lock system.
Amsterdam’s Jewish quarter is deserted. I was told, people who lived in that neighborhood, that in the evening and at night one could hear women and children screaming when the Germans picked up carloads to Germany. And on the way, I was told, they put a hose in the tank or truck where they were sitting and let it go full throttle, so that they arrived dead in Germany, and were immediately consumed in ovens.
The houses in the Jodenbreestraat are still there. One can see that what wanted to burn was demolished during the war years. And yet Israel is blind, and has a lid on her face. Hope in the Lord, you remnant, if Israel is in need, there will be deliverance. His goodness is very great. He will once set all Israel free from iniquities on the prayers of the remnant (from Ps. 130).
Friesland
On a Sunday morning we went by bus to Makkum for church. Here we saw a rather famous shipyard, whose director did business with Palestine Jews. Four 70-ton fishing boats were now made. One was ready and would sail to Palestine the next day under its own power, with a Jewish crew and a Jewish David’s flag on.
We spent a lot of time in Bolsward, where family lived there and many friends from my school youth and also until I was eighteen, where we sailed to Amsterdam as turnsmen. Where now Mr. Jurian Kok is captain and owner. The ship that Kok bought from my father and is now 50 years old is still sailing. It was a great pleasure to see the forecastle and aft cabin for the last time.
We also spent a day with Ulbe Faber and watched in Wieringermeer. Much has been suffered there, but God also helped out of it by restoring the flooded polder and allowing rich crops to grow again.
Back home
After having enjoyed a lot with my wife’s brother Klaas van der Kooi and wife in Longerhou, we went from there to Aalten at the end of June and then again on the Holland America Line in Rotterdam, to leave June 30 with the Veendam, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. We had great friends on the outward journey. On the return trip we will not soon forget friends Mr. Bakker of Amsterdam and Mrs. van der Lely of Naaldwijk.
We are back in Orange City. If we can do it again, we won’t stop it. It was also beautiful at sea both trips. If you go and can, go in the spring. Holland is a beautiful country, and its spring is typical.
