In the 1950s and 60s, so-called communal freezers emerged in the Netherlands, particularly in rural areas. These were facilities, often established on a cooperative basis, where residents of villages or rural districts could rent one or more lockers to freeze food.
The communal freezers provided a solution at a time when most households did not yet have their own freezer. Home-grown vegetables and fruit, or meat from home slaughtering, were primarily stored there.
In 1962, the Netherlands had approximately 700 of these communal freezers. However, their use declined rapidly in the 1970s, when the freezer became a common household appliance.
Locations
There were also communal freezers in the municipality of Aalten. Some well-known examples (provisional list, April 2025):
- Aalten, Haartsestraat 1/1: A communal freezer was located beneath the premises of the Ten Have family. The building was demolished around 2003.
- Aalten, Kerkstraat 7: Slagerij Odolphy
- Aalten, Hogestraat 11: Slagerij Prinsen
- Barlo: Barloseweg 5: Installatiebedrijf Piek
- Barlo, Markerinkdijk 24: Kruidenier Onnink
- Heurne, Bocholtsestraatweg 70 (Vaags)
- IJzerlo, Kruisdijk 16 (Tolkamp)
- Bredevoort, Landstraat 19 (J.B. Hansté)
- Lintelo, Gendringseweg 25: (Van de Put)
- Lintelo, Halteweg 10: (Gussinklo)
Do you have any additions or corrections to this list, or photos of (vanished) communal freezers in Aalten? Do you know if anything has been preserved? Please let us know!
Newspaper reports
