Category: Aalten Achteruit

Burials in Aalten
Around 800 AD

Belt fitting, found in the Damstraat

Archaeological finds indicate that the early inhabitants of Aalten were already burying their dead around 800 AD in a burial field on the current Damstraat. During excavation work in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, traces of a Merovingian-Frankish burial field were discovered there. Notable finds, such as spearheads, stirrups, a shield boss, and silver belt links, suggest that a warrior may have been buried here.

On De Hoven, traces of habitation from the same period have been found, consisting of various so-called sunken huts – rectangular pits that served as work or storage spaces. Pottery fragments found here correspond with the finds from the burial field on the Damstraat.

The Christianization of Aalten

Following the subjugation of the Saxons by Charlemagne around 785, the Christianization of Aalten and the surrounding area began. Missionary Liudger, later Bishop of Münster, played a significant role in the founding of churches in the region, presumably including the first church in Aalten.

This church, originally likely a simple wooden chapel, was founded on a strategic and symbolic site: the elevated location where the current Old Helenachurch stands today. This site became the religious and social center of the community.

Archaeological research has shown that the residents of De Hoven abandoned that site around the year 1000. It is possible that, after converting to Christianity, they decided to live closer to the recently founded church to enjoy the protection of the faith. From that time on, the deceased were also presumably buried in and around the church.

Churchyard

A churchyard developed around the church, which played an important role in the life of the community during the Middle Ages. The churchyard in Aalten was originally much larger than the current plot surrounding the Old Helenachurch. It served not only as a burial ground but also as a place for social and religious gatherings. In those days, people even lived around or on the churchyard, often officials such as sextons or clergy who were directly involved with the church.

In recent centuries, skeletal remains have been frequently encountered during excavation work in the ground around the church, such as on the Köstersbulte, the path along Elim, and also on the Kerkstraat, where buildings now stand. The original burial ground around the church was therefore much larger than the current site on which the church stands.

Until the 19th century, the deceased were primarily buried in and around the church. Burial inside the church itself was reserved for people of status, such as clergy, nobles, and benefactors. It was believed that a grave within the church guaranteed a better position in the afterlife. However, most people were buried in the churchyard surrounding the church. Individual tombstones were rare in the Middle Ages; many people were buried in unmarked graves.

Health Risks

However, burial inside the church brought significant problems. A lack of space and the decomposition of bodies led to health risks; churchyards became overcrowded, and the situation became untenable.

Subsidence in the floor occurred regularly within the church, and the owners of the respective graves often failed to carry out the necessary repairs. The odor of decay in the pews near the hole in question was sometimes unbearable for weeks, especially during the summer months.

Aalten Market with church and ‘bone hall’, c. 1740 – drawn by Piet te Lintum

Epidemics such as the plague exacerbated this problem. Consequently, a regulation was established stating that churchwardens, in cases of negligence, were permitted to contract out the necessary repairs, whereby the respective plot would revert to the church.

The condition of the burial ground around the church was also often poor. Because burials had not been conducted at a sufficient depth for a long time, bones frequently came to the surface. A bone collector would gather these remains from time to time, for two bushels of rye per year, and cast them into the bone hall (also known as a charnel house), a small building in the churchyard on the Market side. When the supply became too large, it was cleared away.

Royal Decree of 1827

In 1827, King William I decreed by law that, from 1829, cemeteries had to be established outside built-up areas. For many people, this was a major step—to break with all traditions and leave the dead outside the village “just anywhere in the ground.”

The practice of burial in and around the church symbolized an era in which religion, death, and community were closely intertwined. The ban on this practice was a turning point that not only benefited public health but also marked a shift in how death was handled: individual graves were given more space, more funerary monuments appeared, and cemeteries were landscaped.

Cemeteries in Aalten

Burial mound Nannielaantje

Burial mound Nannielaantje

Christiaan Caspar Stumph, Mayor of Aalten since 1811, was annoyed by burials within the village. In 1818, he therefore had an ‘outside cemetery’ created for himself and his family on his estate, Het Smees. His son Abraham Anthony was the first to be buried here, followed by Stumph himself in 1820. In total, seven people rest on this unusual burial mound, which is still visible on the Nannielaantje in Aalten.

Old Cemetery

Following the royal decree of 1827, a site on the Varsseveldsestraatweg in Aalten was designated as a cemetery. Due to the growth of the village, this cemetery became increasingly enclosed by the early 20th century. In 1923, the Berkenhove cemetery was put into use. Although the Old Cemetery has since taken on the function of a memorial park, it is still sporadically used for the interment of the deceased in existing graves.

Old Catholic Cemetery Varsseveldsestraatweg

When the cemetery on the Varsseveldsestraatweg was established, the Catholic community was given its own section across the street, on the corner with the Molenstraat. This cemetery became full after only thirty years, after which a new Roman Catholic cemetery on the Piet Heinstraat was put into use in 1868. The small old cemetery later took on the function of a public green space.

Jewish Cemetery

On the Haartsestraat in Aalten, just outside the village, lies the Jewish cemetery of Aalten. Although the site officially became the property of the Jewish community in 1852, there are indications that the cemetery had been in use since approximately 1820. There are about seventy tombstones on the site, varying in age and design. At the entrance on the Haartsestraat stands a metaheer house, a ritual building used for the cleansing of the deceased according to Jewish traditions.

Catholic Cemetery, Piet Heinstraat, Aalten

Catholic Cemetery Piet Heinstraat

When the Catholic cemetery on the Varsseveldsestraatweg became full, textile manufacturer Anton Driessen donated a piece of land on the current Piet Heinstraat in 1868 to be laid out as a cemetery. He also donated an iron Calvary cross and an iron gate. The bier house dates from 1888. A century later, this cemetery also became full. From 1960 onwards, Catholic deceased were therefore buried in the new Roman Catholic section of the Berkenhove cemetery.

General Cemetery Berkenhove

After the Old Cemetery on the Varsseveldsestraatweg became full, the ‘Berkenhove’ cemetery on the Romienendiek was put into use in 1923. The original section is enclosed between the Romienendiek, the Barloseweg, and the Koningsweg. Over the years, the cemetery has been regularly expanded. In 1960, a Catholic section was added because the Roman Catholic cemetery on the Piet Heinstraat was full. A modern funeral center and crematorium are located at Berkenhove.

Cemeteries in Bredevoort

Old Cemetery

The Old Cemetery on the Prins Mauritsstraat was established around 1830, simultaneously with the adjacent Jewish Cemetery. The site became available after the dismantling of the fortifications on the eastern side of the town. In 1925, a new entrance gate was installed, and a bier house was built a few years later.

Old Jewish Cemetery

Bredevoort once had two Jewish cemeteries. The oldest was located on the former castle grounds behind Hozenstraat 5. In 1953, this site was sold to the municipality of Aalten for housing construction. The remains and tombstones were then transferred to the second cemetery on the Prins Mauritsstraat.

Jewish Cemetery

The Jewish Cemetery on the Prins Mauritsstraat was established around 1830, simultaneously with the adjacent general cemetery. The last Bredevoort Jews to be interred in this cemetery were brother and sister Levi and Sara Sander. Both died in 1938, shortly after one another. The cemetery is not accessible to the public.

Kloosterhof Cemetery, Bredevoort

Kloosterhof Cemetery

The Kloosterhof cemetery on the Kloosterdijk in Bredevoort was established in 1862-1863 and originally served as a Roman Catholic cemetery. The oldest, centrally located part has a symmetrical layout with a characteristic entrance gate, a bier house, and a Calvary cross. In the 1980s, the cemetery was expanded with a general section. A mortuary was also erected in 1989.
Sources
17 January 2025
Rise of the textile industry in Aalten
The textile industry in Aalten was deeply rooted in the centuries-old tradition of domestic weaving and flax processing. In the 19th century, this craft grew into a flourishing industry, partly thanks to the establishment of German textile families such as the Driessens.

For centuries, flax was cultivated in the Achterhoek and the adjacent Westphalia region, from which linen was woven on farms. This cottage industry led to a lively cross-border trade in woven fabrics.

Numerous farm and street names in Aalten still recall this era, for example: de Weversborg, de Pellewever, de Bleeke, the Vlasspreideweg, and—due to the pure water—the Zilverbekendijk.

The arrival of the Driessens

Import duties on foreign fabrics were increased in 1823 to protect Dutch industry. German textile companies, including the firms Gebrüder Driessen and Peter Driessen & Sohn in Bocholt, moved to the Achterhoek. In 1826, they established themselves in Aalten.

With their arrival in 1826, 56 looms and approximately twenty families from Prussia also came to Aalten. Most of them settled here permanently.

Spinning flax on the spinning wheel

Growth of employment

The number of domestic weavers grew steadily. While the number was 292 in 1828, it had risen to 352 a year later, and in 1833 it was reported: ‘The fustian factories continued strongly, with the factories in Aalten typically employing approximately 630 weavers according to records. Both in this and in the surrounding municipalities of Winterswijk, Dinxperlo, Varsseveld, Lichtenvoorde, etc.’

The first factories

In 1829, there were two cotton mills in Aalten ‘which provide work for about 40 people’, including that of the Driessen brothers. In 1830, there were three, with approximately sixty employees.

On August 15, 1829, Jan Gerard Kraak ten Houten, ‘licensed shopkeeper and merchant in Aalten’, informed the Governor of Gelderland of his wish to establish ‘a fustian factory, spinning mill, dye works, and bleachery’ in his hometown, for which he requested permission. The municipal council had no objections to this establishment, ‘considering that the petitioner’s intention is only to have fustian manufactured by weavers at their homes, without erecting a spinning mill, bleachery, or dye works. This ensures sufficient work for the craftsman’, while no other interests are harmed. Ultimately, the King had to decide on the matter. Favorable advice was given by all advisors. It is not known how long this company existed or where it was located.
Sources
- Geweven goed, the textile history of Aalten and Bredevoort
  H. de Beukelaer, J.G. ter Horst – Fagus, 1992
20 June 1969
Mysterious murder in the Münsterland
The tragic fate of Gesina te Winkel

On the night of October 28, 1799, the lifeless body of 47-year-old Gesina te Winkel was found on the heath, near the border between the Aalten rural district of Haart and the German town of Barlo. She lay only a few minutes from her home and had multiple stab wounds. What had happened to her?

Gesina te Winkel was baptized in Aalten on April 30, 1752, as the daughter of Barent te Winkel and Enneken Dierkink.¹ On April 20, 1777, she married Adolphus (Alof) Lensing², who was later also called te Winkel. The couple lived at Gesina’s parental home, the ‘t Winkel farm in the Haart, only 800 meters away from the border with the then Bishopric of Münster, which is now part of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

‘t Winkel farm in the Haart, photo: H. Schutte, 2024

The disappearance

On Sunday, October 27, 1799, around four o’clock in the afternoon, Gesina left home alone with a sandwich in her hand. She was on her way to the Möllers family to pick up some items of clothing. The Möllers lived just across the border in the Münsterland, about a fifteen-minute walk from ‘t Winkel.

When it began to get dark and Gesina had not yet returned, her husband Alof and their children began to worry. Where was she? Alof decided to go to the Möllers family’s house. He found three women there by the fire, who told him they had not seen Gesina that day.

‘t Winkel, Möllers, and the heath in between ³

Returning home, Alof wondered if his wife had encountered someone on the way or perhaps visited a neighbor. Upon arriving home, it turned out she was still not back. He then went out to search again, this time on the heath. When he could not find her there, he went to the Möllers’ house once more. The residents were already in bed, and when Alof knocked and asked about his wife again, the man and woman called out to him from bed that they had heard nothing of Gesina and that she had not been there that day.

Alof involved his nearest neighbor Hendrik te Kolste and the servant of his brother at Drenthel Schoppe, Harmen Swietink, in the search. Together they went out onto the heath once more to look for Gesina.

The discovery

By then it was pitch dark on the heath and they could see very little. Around midnight, one of them suddenly discovered something white. It turned out to be Gesina’s cap, with her lifeless body beside it. She was lying on her side; her feet were still warm, but the rest of her body was cold. She was found only five to ten minutes from her home. Alof had a cart brought and took her body home on it. He thought she had probably become unwell on the way and died as a result.

Heath at night – Photo: J. Iedema ⁴

The judicial investigation

The following morning, Monday, October 28, Garrit Rensink, residing at the Beestmans Huisje farm in the Haart, reported to the court of the Seigniory of Bredevoort that the wife of his neighbor Alof te Winkel had been found dead on the heath the previous night.

Thereupon the court, accompanied by surgeon Steven Schaars, proceeded to ‘t Winkel. Upon examination of the body, it was determined that the woman had multiple stab wounds – three on her left side and two on her right side, presumably inflicted with a bayonet or a triangular object.

Apparently, they were not yet entirely convinced of the cause of death, because two days later the court went to ‘t Winkel again with Schaars for further investigation. During this, the deceased, who had already been placed in a coffin, was removed from the coffin and examined, whereby Schaars determined that the lower ribs on the right side were broken and that the wounds inflicted upon her had caused her death.

During interrogation, Alof, Hendrik, and Harmen stated that they initially thought they had found Gesina’s body on Dutch territory, but also that they had not been able to determine this properly due to the darkness. Upon further recollection, however, they were almost certain it must have been on Münster territory.

Hendrik and Harmen further stated that, as far as they knew, Alof te Winkel and his wife had a good relationship and that there was no question of disagreement or quarreling. They also stated that Gesina never quarreled with anyone, and that she “despite her years, looked very well.”

Arnoldus Obrink, a cooper in the Hoekstraat in Aalten, stated that he had seen Gesina around four o’clock that Sunday afternoon. He was walking on the road from Hunink to Aalten and Gesina was taking the road to the Münsterland, about 300 paces from her house. He had even spoken briefly with her while she was eating a sandwich. Furthermore, he had seen no one else in the vicinity.

An unconfirmed rumor

A rumor soon spread that Gesina had indeed been at the Möllers’ house that Sunday. According to the stories, a 13-year-old son of the family had been playing carelessly with a loaded gun, after which it accidentally went off and hit Gesina. It was even claimed that traces of the shot could still be seen in the chimney or near the hearth. However, there was no evidence for this rumor.

File to Bocholt

Because there was a strong suspicion that Gesina’s violent death had occurred on Münster territory, the drost of Bredevoort, Willem Paschen, sent a copy of the file to the court of Bocholt so that they could investigate this case further.⁵ Unfortunately, it is not known to us how this case ended. The tragic murder of Gesina te Winkel remains a mystery.

Funeral

In the Burial Register of the Dutch Reformed Congregation in Aalten, it is noted under October 1799: “deceased the 28th – Alof te Winkel his wife – buried the 31st” ⁶
Sources
28 October 1799
The Murder of Aunt Tannemaat
On the early morning of January 12, 1770, the neighbors of the Vosheurne farm in Lintelo were startled by a disturbing report. “The aunt is dead, she is very bloody, she may well have smashed her head,” resident Harmen Brunsink shouted. Extensive forensic investigation by the Court of Bredevoort revealed a story of a family conflict that degenerated into murder and would end with a gruesome execution.

Tensions in the House

Hendersken Tannemaat, born in 1705, had lived on the Vosheurne her entire life. Her niece, Gijsberta Deemshof, born in 1739 in Doesburg as the daughter of Hendersken’s sister Johanna, was raised by her ‘moeje’ (aunt) Hendersken from the age of three. In 1761, Gijsberta married Harmen Brunsink, born in 1729 at the Bekink farm in IJzerlo. After their marriage, Harmen moved in with Gijsberta and her unmarried aunt at the Vosheurne.

Initially, Hendersken lived with the young couple in exchange for board. In June 1768, however, she transferred all her possessions to Harmen and Gijsberta in exchange for room and board and all necessary care for the rest of her life. This was a common arrangement at the time between elderly people and their children—in this case, her niece and husband. Harmen and Gijsberta solemnly promised to fulfill this obligation.

However, the relationship between Harmen and the aunt deteriorated over the years, and tensions arose in the house. The aunt reportedly told Harmen several times that she wanted to undo the agreement “because you treat me so poorly!”

A Mysterious Death

A box bed (photo for illustration)

On that fateful morning of January 12, 1770, Harmen frantically gathered the neighbors because the aunt was dead. It was customary in this region for neighbors to be called upon in the event of a death to arrange practical matters, such as the funeral and the ‘verhennekleden’—undressing the deceased and shrouding them in grave clothes. When the neighbor women entered the bedroom, they found Hendersken dead in her box bed, her hands folded over her chest. Her nose and arms were blue, and when her cap fell off, they discovered flour in her hair and blood seeping down her neck.

Gijsberta stated that she had used the flour to staunch the bleeding. Harmen added that the bruises were likely because the aunt suffered from scurvy, and that Hendersken had probably hit her head on the sharp edges of the bed plank. But the story did not add up. The neighbors did not trust it and brought the matter to the attention of the Court of Bredevoort.

The Investigation

Two days after Hendersken’s death, court officials arrived at the Vosheurne with two surgeons. Upon arrival, it appeared the body had already been coffined. In the presence of Harmen and Gijsberta, the surgeons examined the body. They discovered several severe injuries and bruises to the head. The injuries made it clear that an accident was out of the question. Suspicion immediately fell on Harmen and Gijsberta, who lived with Hendersken at the Vosheurne and could not provide a convincing account of what had happened.

Both suspects denied any involvement and claimed they had found Hendersken dead on the floor in front of her box bed that morning. They claimed to have placed her on the bed, sprinkled flour on her head to stop the bleeding, and put on her cap. However, their statements contradicted each other. Harmen had told the neighbors that he had found Hendersken dead in bed, not on the floor.

Voluntarily and without resistance, they went to Aalten, where they were taken into custody for further questioning. When the numerous head wounds were discussed, Harmen stated that these might have been the result of an epileptic seizure. Hendersken supposedly hit her head against the bed plank, the flax comb chair, the small chests, a trunk, or the beer stand. He also suggested that someone from outside the house could have broken in, as the house was in poor condition.

Further Investigation

On January 16, the Court, assisted by a doctor, a surgeon, and a prosecutor, returned to the Vosheurne with the suspects. Hendersken’s bedroom was meticulously examined.

The box bed showed a large bloodstain on the bed plank at the head end, as if the blood had splashed against the plank. But it had no sharp edges, as Harmen had claimed. Due to long-term use, the plank was actually rounded, and no sharp edges were found inside the box bed either. Other furniture in the room—small chests, a trunk, and a flax comb chair—showed no traces of blood. Nothing was found under the box bed either.

The doctor and the surgeon then examined the body even more closely. They stated primarily that there was a slight bruise on the nose, as well as severe bruising on both elbows, arms, and hands, beneath which coagulated, extravasated blood was found. These bruises could only have been caused by an external factor.

Not only on the right side of the head, at the level of the temple, were the external coverings and fleshy parts bruised, wounded, and destroyed down to the bone, but similar bruises and wounds were visible on the left side, albeit to a lesser extent. Two openings or wounds were discovered on the left side of the skull and one on the right, each about the size of a shilling. Upon loosening the external parts, it appeared that the skull had a fracture on the right side and that on the left side, the end of the skull bone was severely bent downwards and partially broken.

After sawing through and removing the skullcap, several ruptures were found. Due to these fractures and bone pressed outwards, the brain, particularly on the left side, was severely damaged. On both sides of the head, especially the left, extravasated blood was present on and under the dura mater and also within the brain itself. Furthermore, all blood vessels were completely filled with blood. This combination of injuries had inevitably caused her death.

Cellar of the Ambtshuis, drawing by Piet te Lintum

Although the suspects continued to maintain their innocence, the suspicions raised against them were only strengthened by these findings. From the situation on-site and the condition of the corpse, there was no longer any doubt that a murder had been committed. Such a thing could not happen unnoticed in a small cottage like that of the suspects, while they claimed to know nothing. The suspects were then transferred to the prison in the Ambtshuis in Bredevoort.

Harmen’s Confession

During the subsequent interrogations, Harmen and Gijsberta initially stuck to their story: Hendersken had died in an accident. But the evidence against them mounted. On January 19, a week after the murder, Harmen broke under the pressure and confessed what had really happened: He stated that he acted alone, without the help of his wife. He had previously said to his wife in bed: “There lies such a small pebble, I shall strike her five or six times on the head with it, then she will be gone, then the quarreling will be out of the house, then we can live in peace and unity.”

Around four hours before sunrise, he had risen, lit the lamp, went to Hendersken’s room, and hung the lamp on a nail above the box bed. Upon entering the room, the aunt woke up from the light. Thereupon, Harmen jumped into bed with her, sat astride her, held her head with his left hand, and struck her five or six times on the head with the pebble with his right hand, until she lay dead under his hands.

Gijsberta reportedly tried to stop him, but without success. When the aunt was dead and bleeding heavily, he ordered his wife to sprinkle flour on her head and wash off the blood. Afterwards, he called the neighbors. The stone with which he had struck her, he threw into the ditch behind the oven, near the spot where they fetched water.

Statement of Gijsberta

Gijsberta made her confession on January 20 and 22. She stated regarding her unhappy marriage: “Oh, how unfortunate I am! I married my husband against the wishes of my entire family, and from the beginning of our marriage, he has lived poorly with me.”

In the early morning of January 12, her husband, before he even rose, had said to her: “I will no longer have the quarreling in the house, I want to take decisive action, I shall get a pebble, and give the Aunt but one blow to the head with it, then she will be gone, and then the quarreling will be out of the house.” She was very upset by this, but he tried to reassure her, kissed her, and said: “Do not be dismayed, let me take decisive action, she is an old person, then we can have a peaceful life.”

He even came to her bed with gin and said: “You must drink plenty of gin, and you must be half-drunk, otherwise you would be too dismayed; we must now bite through a sour apple; but you must never betray me, even if I should happen to die, and you get another husband, then you must never say to him that I murdered your own blood.”

She then said to him: “Could you bring yourself to kill my own flesh and blood; if it comes down to it, then I must say it,” to which he had replied: “I will nevertheless take decisive action, I want the quarreling out of the house.”

When her husband was already in the aunt’s room and began striking her, he called Gijsberta to come there. She then went to the room, grabbed his linen smock to pull him away from the aunt, and said: “Fie, fie, what are you doing!” She added that her husband had forced her to be present, saying: “otherwise you might go and report me later.”

Gijsberta also stated that she had long been afraid to lie in bed with him, fearing he would attack her with a knife. That night, too, a knife lay in his trousers in front of the bed. She therefore also said to him: ”I am afraid that you will do me harm.” To which he assured her: “Oh no, I will never do you harm.”

She also confessed that her husband could not bear it if she was kind to the aunt, and that she had had constant sorrow with her husband since the aunt lived with them.

Gijsberta stated from the outset that she did not help carry out this gruesome deed. She also did not know what her husband used to beat the aunt to death, only that in the morning, while fetching water in the ditch in front of the house by the willows, she saw a gray pebble lying in the water that had not been there before.

Both suspects finally confessed that the aunt had never suffered from epilepsy. The neighbors and friends had also never heard of it, except only after her death.

The Verdict

The Court of the Lordship of Bredevoort ruled that everything indicated that Harmen Brunsink, on the night of January 11 to 12, 1770, had murdered Hendersken Tannemaat, a defenseless person estimated to be nearly seventy years old, lying on her bed in his house, in a gruesome manner, deliberately and with premeditation. Gijsberta was charged with failing to dissuade her husband, where possible, from this abhorrent intention.

Harmen was sentenced to death: “to be brought to the place where criminal executions are customarily performed, and there to be bound by the executioner on a wooden cross, to have his legs and arms broken to pieces from the bottom up while alive, and thereafter to have his head severed with an axe. That, this having been done, his body shall subsequently be laid upon a wheel, standing on a post, and fastened thereto with chains, and his head set upon a spike above it, as a hideous example to others.” This punishment is called breaking on the wheel.

On February 10, the residents of Dinxperlo were summoned to the Hollenberg to erect the post and the wheel for the execution and to make the noose. Most refused or did not show up and were fined 30 thalers per person. 18 persons consented and erected the post and the wheel.

The sentence was carried out on the Hollenberg on February 12, 1770.

Gijsberta escaped the death penalty but was required to witness her husband’s execution. Subsequently, she was banished for life from the city and Lordship of Bredevoort. She remarried in 1776 in Silvolde to Jacob Kok and reportedly died in 1813.
Sources
- Nieuwe Nederlandsche jaerboeken, of Vervolg der merkwaerdigste geschiedenissen, die voorgevallen zyn in de Vereenigde Provincien […]. Fifth volume. MDCCLXX, published by the heirs of F. Houttuyn in Amsterdam, P. van der Eyk and D. Vygh in Leiden, 1770 (link)
- ORA Bredevoort
12 February 1770
The execution of Klaas Nijman
Klaas Nijman was baptized on January 16, 1698, in Dinxperlo as the son of Fredrik Nijman and Berentjen Eppink. At the age of fifteen, he left his parental home and began a wandering existence as a ‘beggar and vagabond’. In 1722, he was sentenced in Rhenen to a stay in a house of correction for violence and theft. His release was followed by banishment from the province of Utrecht.

Nijman then returned to the Achterhoek, where he sowed fear among the population, particularly in the vicinity of Dinxperlo and Aalten. He begged and stole, threatened people, and did not hesitate to use brute force. In 1729, he set fire to several houses and was arrested.

On October 3, 1729, following a trial in Bredevoort at ‘t Zand, Klaas Nijman was sentenced to death. He was taken to the Hollenberg, where he was strangled and subsequently set on fire. This gruesome punishment served as a deterrent to others. Nijman was 32 years old at the time.

Sentence

The following 18th-century text describes his crimes and sentence:

Pronounced in Bredevoort at ’t Sant, and executed outside on the Hollenborg, on Monday, October 3, 1729.

Verdict Klaas Nijman

In Criminal cases, before the Most Noble Court of the Lordship of Bredevoort, between the Advocate Fiscal of the aforementioned High Lordship, complainant of the one part, and KLAAS NYMAN, otherwise called KLAAS FREDERIKSEN, aged about 32 years, and born in the district of Bocholt, at the Heelweg, near Dinxperlo, defendant and prisoner of the other part, having seen and examined the inquisitorial procedure, with all attached information, confrontations, and evidence from A. to H. inclusive, furthermore the defendant’s declarations and confessions made outside of actual torture, and in which he has successively and at various times persisted, from which it has appeared:

That he, KLAAS NYMAN, since his fifteenth year has left his Parents and Birthplace, and has wandered the land as a beggar and vagabond. That he was also in the year 1722, for various acts of violence, thefts, and further insolences at Rhenen, flogged, branded, and committed for the term of six years to the House of Correction or public Workhouse at Utrecht, and after expiration banished from the Province and Lands of Utrecht for the term of his life, and never to return therein, upon pain of being punished with death.

That having been released from the aforementioned House of Correction or Workhouse about three-quarters of a year ago, yet the penalties of banishment remaining in force, he thereupon, or some time thereafter, returned to Dinxperlo, and continued in his bold beggaries and acts of violence. That he there, for a trifle on the public road near Dinxperlo, cut open the mouth of one DIRK WENSINK with a knife.

That he likewise, after his aforementioned release, again committed various thefts, such as of ironwork and an axe, and of linen, such as a pillowcase or sheet on the other side of Doesburg at the Steege; and also a shirt from the garden at HENDRIK te Loo or Kistershuis, between Dinxper and the Bredenbroek, and further as by the Reformations. That he, KLAAS NYMAN, has also for years past been notorious and held in suspicion by many inhabitants under Dinxperlo and Aalten, as being of no good and committing much evil.

That he also, following the . . . . of the sentence at Rhenen, was held suspect there of having committed very grave offenses. That the defendant, through his . . . . and malicious conduct and questionable language which he used here and there, has kept the good husbandman and the inhabitants in the countryside, and especially around Dinxperlo and Aalten and the surrounding area, in a state of constant anxiety and fear. That when he came to beg, he was not satisfied with what is ordinarily given to a beggar, although he was often given even more, and went away from the houses muttering to himself.

That this anxiety and fear among the inhabitants has doubled and reached its peak since fire broke out in the Parish of Aalten in this year 1729, and that further and even more burnings of houses close by followed. Such that several inhabitants ordered their people that, if KLAAS NYMAN came to their houses, they should just give him whatever he wanted, to gain his friendship and not to anger him, and that several people, out of fear of arsons, had to keep night watches at their houses during the night, whereby even some hamlets were placed in a state of near alarm.

That he, the defendant KLAAS NYMAN, is also the one who has come to such exceedingly wicked crimes that in the past Summer in the Parishes of Aalten and Dinxperlo, of this same year 1729, from June 13 to August 29, and thus within the span of a quarter-year, he has set fire to three houses, one after the other, and by no means the smallest, which houses were also totally burned down, and of which the corpora delictorum are known.

Namely, on June 13, the house at Lensink, under Aalten on the Esch at Yserlo, where he set a piece of white or spongy peat on fire by means of a tinderbox, flint, and tobacco pipe, and with that burning peat at the back on that side of the house where the wind was blowing against the house at the time, caused the fire. That eight days prior he had also set the same house Lensink on fire, and that it had already been burning, but that it was then still extinguished by the occupants.

Secondly, the house at Welink, also under Aalten on the Esch at Yserlo, on June 20, where he carried out the fire in the same manner as at Lensink with a piece of ignited spongy peat, and therewith set the house on fire from behind. That for both his arsons, at Lensink and Welink, he gives as his reason that he had done so to create anxiety and terror in the neighborhood, or among the people.

Thirdly, the house at Grevink, at ‘t Rexwinkel in the hamlet of Heurne, under Dinxperlo, on August 29, in the evening around 10 o’clock, when he caused the fire there with an ignited fuse made of linen rags, in the straw that lay at the back on the corner partition of the house. That in this aforementioned house Grevink, when it caught fire, a young woman in childbed, who had not yet been in childbed for two days, lay on the bed, and who by great fortune still having the strength to get off the bed, still escaped the fire. That he, KLAAS, gives as his reason for this arson at Grevink that he had done so because the same aforementioned woman in childbed, a long time ago when she was still unmarried, had given him a piece of pancake that had been too small for him.

That at Welink and at the last-mentioned Grevink, several pieces of live Cattle, harvested Grain crops, and further items were also burned and consumed.
That he, the Defendant, is furthermore convicted by four sworn credible witnesses, although he himself has tried to deny it telle quelle, that on August 31 last he spoke those grim words at the house of ARENT OOSTENDORP, in the hamlet of Heurne, under Dinxperlo, that this or that corner would shortly be a poor corner.

That he furthermore has threatened to set fire to the house of the drummer boy within Dinxperlo, and has stood by and persisted in this, that if he had not been captured, he would indeed have done it, and similar terrible threats and dangerous utterances of the Defendant, as the information and confessions herein further set forth.

The highly-mentioned Court, keeping God and Justice before its eyes, doing right with the advice of impartial Legal Experts, declares the Defendant KLAAS NYMAN to have incurred the penalty of the Law, condemning him for the same in consideration of these three gruesome arsons, that he be brought to the usual place of Justice, fastened to a stake and somewhat strangled, and furthermore shall be burned, as a terrifying example to others.

Thus advised by us undersigned within Bredevoort, September 29, 1729.

(And was signed.)

H.J. TEN HAGEN and H.C. STUMPH
Source
- Legal Treatises on Corporal Crimes by a prominent Legal Expert (Jan Jacob van Hasselt), published in Amsterdam by Hendrik Gartman, 1781 (link)
3 October 1729

Aaltenaren in dienst van de VOC

During the 17th and 18th centuries, over two hundred men from Aalten and Bredevoort enlisted on ships of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Some were still minors; many never returned. What prompted them to trade the rural Achterhoek for a dangerous sea voyage to the East, thousands of kilometers from home?

The VOC and its administration

The VOC (1602–1795) was the world’s first multinational and grew into a powerful colonial enterprise with trade monopolies and its own military force. In nearly two hundred years, over 4,700 ships departed for Asia. In the 18th century alone, approximately 655,000 people were aboard VOC ships.¹ Only a small portion came from the Achterhoek. From the records, we know over 200 names of men from Aalten and Bredevoort who entered the service of the VOC.

That we know this is thanks to the meticulous personnel administration. Personal details, roles, ships, destinations, and the reason for leaving service were recorded in the so-called ship’s pay ledgers. These sources have largely been preserved and can be consulted online via the website of the National Archives. The table at the bottom of this article was compiled based on these records. ²

Aalten and the VOC: involved from the beginning

The involvement of Aalten residents with the VOC did not only begin when men enlisted as soldiers or sailors. An Aalten native played a notable role as early as its founding in 1602. Wessel Schenk, born in Aalten and later a merchant in Amsterdam, invested 30,000 guilders in the new company at that time. This made him one of the largest shareholders of the VOC. ³

What do the data reveal?

The data show that by far the majority of passengers from Aalten and Bredevoort departed for Batavia. Other destinations included Ceylon, Bengal, Cape of Good Hope, Tuticorin, and China.

The service was risky: more than half died en route or in Asia, while only a third demonstrably returned alive. Enlistments took place throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, with slight peaks in the 1720s and 1760–70.

*Optical print of Batavia in 1780 (source: Wikipedia)*

Motives for departure

Why did these men choose an uncertain existence at sea? For many, it was a matter of poverty or a lack of prospects: a steady income with the VOC offered security. For others, the urge for adventure and independence played a role, a chance to see the world and escape the constraints of rural life. ⁴

Military roles

Nearly half of the men from Aalten and Bredevoort held a military position. Until 1755, there was a garrison in Bredevoort⁵, which may have played a role in this. For military personnel, the VOC presumably offered the opportunity to utilize their experience with weapons and discipline, often for better pay and with more career prospects. At the same time, it is equally possible that men with experience in the civic guard were deployed for such roles. The departure of the garrison from Bredevoort seems to have had no demonstrable influence on the number of enlistments.

Names and data

The table below contains the details of individuals from Aalten and Bredevoort who were in the service of the VOC. Some individuals are listed multiple times because they made several voyages. This table is not flawless and is likely not exhaustive. For some individuals, it is not certain that they actually originated from Aalten or Bredevoort, as the origin is sometimes difficult to read and spelling varies. Partly for this reason, names are undoubtedly missing, but possibly also because parts of the administration have been lost.

The 📜 behind each name contains a link to the relevant entry in the National Archives, where the scan of the original document can also be viewed. A 🌳 refers to the family tree of the person in question on FamilySearch (free account required), where known – work in progress!

Achternaam	Voornaam	Herkomst	Vertrek	Schip	Bestemming	Beroep	Uit dienst	Reden	Details
Andriesse	Joannes	Alten	1721	Amsterdam	Batavia	Soldaat	1727	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Andriesz	Hendrik	Alten	1734	Hof niet Altijd Winter	Batavia	Soldaat	1734	Overleden	📜
Arendse	Salomon	Aalte	1736	Noordwaddinxveen	Batavia	Tweede meester	1744	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Arendse	Willem	Aalten	1718	Amstelveen	Batavia	Adelborst	1721	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Arentsz	Willem	Aelten	1722	Meerhuizen	Ceylon	Lanspassaat	1726	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Balsterhein	Hendrik	Alten	1722	Oostrust	Batavia	Bosschieter	1722	Kamer Amsterdam	📜
Barreveld	Hendrik	Altem	1737	Ruiter	Batavia	Matroos	1738	Kamer Amsterdam	📜
Becking	Johannes Christiaan	Breedvoort in gelderland	1758	Standvastigheid	Batavia	Tweede chirurgijn	1759	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Bekking	Johannes Christiaan	Bredevoort	1760	Wildrijk	Batavia	Tweede meester	1762	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Bekking	Johannes Christiaan	Bredevoort	1763	Lapienenburg	Batavia	Oppermeester	1766	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Bekking	Johannes Christiaan	Bredevoort	1767	Tulpenburg	Batavia	Oppermeester	1768	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Bekking	Salomon	Breedevoort	1763	Lapienenburg	Batavia	Jongen	1765	Overleden	📜 🌳
Beuckelaer	Coen Adriaensen	Altene	1685	Vrijheid	Batavia	Soldaat	?	?	📜
Beuckelaer	Cornelis	Altene	1699	IJsselmonde	Batavia	Matroos	?	?	📜
Beumer	Barend	Aalte	1744	Spanderswoud	Batavia	Soldaat	1747	Overleden	📜
Blok	Casper	Alten	1726	Stadwijk	Batavia	Soldaat	1728	Overleden	📜
Bokkel, ten	Harmen	Brevoort	1728	Susanna	Batavia	Lanspassaat	1736	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Bockel, ten	Harme	Brevorst	1737	Meerlust	Batavia	Soldaat	1737	Overleden	📜 🌳
Bokkel, te	Matthijs	Aalten	1733	Krooswijk	Batavia	Opperchirurgijn	1743	Overleden	📜
Bos	Johan	Aalden	1753	Huigenwaard	Batavia	Soldaat	1776	Overleden	📜
Bouwmeester	Engelbert	Aalte	1776	Dankbaarheid	Batavia	Soldaat	1776	Kamer Amsterdam	📜
Brakel, van	Barent	Breevoort	1749	Voorzichtigheid	Batavia	Soldaat	1749	Overleden	📜
Brakel, van	Warnar	Breevaart	1745	Rijnhuizen	Batavia	Onderzeilmaker	1746	Overleden	📜
Bramenkam	Anthon	Aalden	1789	Trinconomale	Ceylon	Soldaat	1794	Laatste vermelding	📜
Bremer	Anthonij	Aalten	1716	Barneveld	Batavia	Soldaat	1719	Overleden	📜
Brethouwer	Dirk	Aalten	1710	Huis te Nieuwburg	Batavia	Onderbarbier	1713	Overleden	📜 🌳
Broekhuijsen	Willem	Aelten	1726	Boekenrode	Batavia	Derde meester	1729	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Buijsink	Joost	Alten	1715	Schellenberg	Batavia	Soldaat	1727	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Bulsing	Barent Hendrik	Althen	1769	Welgelegen	Batavia	Tweede meester	1770	Overleden	📜 🌳
Bus, de	Jan	Breedevoort	1748	Geldermalsen	Batavia	Commandeur van de Soldaten	1749	Overleden	📜
Busch, ten	Allard Jacobsz	Brevoort	1729	Jacoba	Batavia	Jongen	1730	Overleden	📜
Cappers	Dirk	Alten	1700	Bambeek	Batavia	Derde chirurgijn	1702	Schip vergaan	📜
Cefrij	Hendrik	Aalten buijten zutphen	1719	Huis de Vlotter	Batavia	Soldaat	1739	Overleden	📜
Chavonnes, de	Louis	Brevoort	1700	Ellemeet	Batavia	Onderkoopman	1703	Overleden	📜
Claée	Johannes	Alten	1728	Stadwijk	Batavia	Matroos	1741	Overleden	📜
Cleef	Jan Dirkse	Brevoort	1690	Brandenburg	Ceylon	Soldaat	1696	Overleden	📜
Coenen	Adam Harmsse	Bredevoort	1769	Vrouwe Petronella Maria	Batavia	Soldaat	1771	Overleden	📜
Coeverde, van	Jan	Aalte	1737	Batavier	Batavia	Bosschieter	1739	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Coeverden, van	Gerrit	Althe	1718	Huis de Vlotter	Batavia	Sergeant	1720	Overleden	📜
Coeverden, van	Jan	Aalten	1705	Hof van Ilpendam	Batavia	Adelborst	1706	Overleden	📜
Coeverden, van	Matthijs	Aelten	1707	Vrijburg	Batavia	Soldaat	1720	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Coeverden, van	Matthijs	Alten	1721	Schonenberg	?	Korporaal	1725	Overleden	📜
Coeverden, van	Wessel	Aelten	1724	Theodora	Ceylon	Soldaat	1725	Overleden	📜
Damman	Stoffel	Alten	1760	Luxemburg	Batavia	Bosschieter	1761	Overleden	📜
Deunk	Henrick	Alten	1719	Johanna	Batavia	Ondermeester	1721	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Dijk, van	Hendrik	Brevoort	1773	Hoolwerf	Batavia	Soldaat	1780	Overleden	📜
Donkers	Pieter	Breevoort	1726	Oudenaarde	Batavia	Soldaat	1733	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Enting	Rouloff Jacobus	Bredevoort	1783	Zeeduin	Batavia	Jongmatroos	1785	Schip vergaan	📜 🌳
Entink	Abraham	Bredevoort	1771	Velsen	Ceylon	Matroos	1794	Laatste vermelding	📜 🌳
Entink	Daniel	Breedevoort	1765	Oranjezaal	Bengalen	Soldaat	1767	Overleden	📜 🌳
Entink	Isaak Jacobus	Breedenvoort	1761	Oosterbeek	Bengalen	Sergeant	1766	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Entink	Jan Hendrik	Brevoort	1750	Gustaaf Willem	Batavia	Ondermeester	1760	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Entink	Lodewijk	Bredevoort	1756	Stadwijk	Batavia	Derde meester	1758	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Entink	Lodewijk	Bredevoort	1759	Sloten	Batavia	Tweede meester	1764	Schip vergaan	📜 🌳
Entink	Willem	Breedevoort	1762	Amstelveen	Batavia	Konstabelsmaat	1763	Overleden	📜 🌳
Evers	Jacob Adolph	Bredevoort	1776	Bot	Batavia	Ziekentrooster	1779	Overleden	📜 🌳
Evers	Johannes Theodorus	Bredevoort in’t graafschap zutphen	1776	Kanaan	Batavia	Sergeant	1777	Overleden	📜
Evert	Willem	Althem	1756	Bevalligheid	Bengalen	Derde meester	1757	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Everse	Willem	Aalten	1759	Huis te Manpad	Bengalen	Ondermeester	1762	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Everse	Willem	Aalten	1763	Giessenburg	Ceylon	Oppermeester	1765	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Evers	Willem	Aalten	1780	Morgenster	Ceylon	Matroos	1785	Weggelopen	📜 🌳
Everts	David	Breedevoort	1724	Midloo	Ceylon	Sergeant	1730	Vrijburger	📜 🌳
Feriet	Hendrik	Aalthen	1773	Bovenkerker Polder	Bengalen	Bosschieter	1775	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Florin	Laurens	Aalten	1739	Magdalena	Batavia	Soldaat	1750	Overleden	📜
Fredriks	Harmanus	Aelten	1767	Woestduin	Batavia	Tweede meester	1768	Overleden	📜
Fredriks	Herman	Altem	1727	Valkenisse	Ceylon	Soldaat	1727	Overleden	📜
Gansvoort	Jan	Aalten	1751	Immagonda	Bengalen	Tweede meester	1753	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Gantvoort	Jan	Aalten	1753	Bevalligheid	Bengalen	Tweede meester	1755	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Gantvoort	Jan	Aalten	1756	Amstelveen	Batavia	Tweede meester	1792	Overleden	📜 🌳
Gerritse	Jan Dirk	Breedevoort	1767	Schagen	Batavia	Tweede meester	1768	Overleden	📜
Gielink	Jan	Aalten	1724	Meerhuizen	Batavia	Onderkuiper	1731	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Gijsberts	Bastiaan	Bredevoort	1775	Vrijheid	Batavia	Soldaat	1780	Overleden	📜 🌳
Gijsbertsz	Pieter	Bredevoort	1733	Hogersmilde	Batavia	Adelborst	1734	Overleden	📜
Glasemaker	Simon	Brevoort	1739	Patmos	Batavia	Matroos	1762	Overleden	📜
Graeff	Bartel	Breevort	1734	Hof niet Altijd Winter	Batavia	Soldaat	1739	Overleden	📜
Groepingh	Hendrik	Brevoort	1742	Nieuwerkerk	Batavia	Adelborst	1743	Overleden	📜
Groosois	Barent	Aelten	1707	Meervliet	Kaap	Soldaat	1708	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Gussenklo	Dirk	Aalten	1756	Sloten	China	Ziekentrooster	1757	Overleden	📜
Haar, in der	Hendrick	Alen in west phalen	1693	Schoondijk	Batavia	Soldaat	1693	Overleden	📜
Haar, ter	Willem	Aalte	1755	Sparenrijk	Batavia	Ondermeester	1756	Overleden	📜
Haartman	Gerrit	Aalte	1769	Scholtenburg	Batavia	Huistimmerman	1771	Overleden	📜
Hamerlinck	Pieter	Altene	1698	Huis te Kraaiestein	?	?	?	?	📜
Hansz	Jacob	Aalten	1710	Prins Eugenius	Batavia	Konstabel	1714	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Harking	Jacob	Brevoort	1711	Mossel	Batavia	Onderbarbier	1713	Overleden	📜 🌳
Harms	Johan Hendrik	Altien	1783	Berkhout	Batavia	Matroos	1784	Weggelopen	📜
Hasselt	Willem	Brevoort	1721	Strijkebolle	Batavia	Soldaat	1725	Overleden	📜 🌳
Heijn	Hendrik Jan	Aalten	1700	Brandenburg	Batavia	Soldaat	1705	Overleden	📜
Heijne	Jan	Aalte	1703	Berkel	Batavia	Bottelier	1707	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Heijnen	Benjamin	Aelten	1757	Velsen	Batavia	Ziekentrooster	1759	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Heijnen	Jan	Alten	1693	Faam	Ceylon	Adelborst	1695	Overleden	📜
Heijnen	Jan	Aalten	1709	Oegstgeest	Batavia	Botteliersmaat	1714	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Hendriks	Lucas	Breevoort	1717	Nesserak	Batavia	Soldaat	1718	Overleden	📜
Hendriksz	Paulus	Brevoort	1725	Heesburg	Batavia	Korporaal	1731	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Henkamp	Gerrit Jan	Breedevoort	1764	Ouderamstel	Batavia	Leggermaker	1766	Overleden	📜
Henrij	Frans Bernardus	Breevoort	1706	Zoelen	Batavia	Adelborst	1708	Overleden	📜
Henrij	Steven Jan	Breevoort	1706	Zoelen	Batavia	Soldaat	1706	Overleden	📜
Heuningh	Barent	Aalten	1711	Donkervliet	Batavia	Soldaat	1721	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Hijne	Benjamin	Althen	1762	Leimuiden	Batavia	Ziekentrooster	1764	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Hofman	Johannes	Brevoort	1745	Schellag	Batavia	Assistent	1747	Overleden	📜
Hopman	Gerrit	Aalte	1767	Woestduin	Batavia	Ziekentrooster	1769	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Hopman	Gerrit	Aalthen	1769	Bovenkerker Polder	Bengalen	Ziekentrooster	1771	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Hopman	Gerrit	Aalte	1771	Geinwens	Ceylon	Ziekentrooster	1772	Overleden	📜
Houthuijs	Gerrit Jan	Aalten	1757	Vlietlust	Ceylon	Soldaat	1761	Weggelopen	📜
Jacobsz	Jan	Alten	1764	Baarzande	Batavia	Matroos	1765	Overleden	📜
Janknegt	Gerrit Jan	Alten in gelderlant	1723	Borssele	Ceylon	Soldaat	1746	Overleden	📜
Jangknegt	Hendrik Willem	Alten	1763	Immagonda	Batavia	Soldaat	1774	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Janknegt	Hendrik Willem	Aalse in gelderland	1774	Rodenrijs	Batavia	Patroontasmaker	1774	Absent bij afvaart (overleden)	📜 🌳
Jansen Knegt	Gerrit	Alten	1709	‘t Ghijn	Batavia	Adelborst	1710	Overleden	📜
Jansse	Bernardus	Aelte	1764	Vrouwe Geertruida	Batavia	Huistimmerman	1767	Overleden	📜
Jansse	Jan	Aalden	1772	Landskroon	Ceylon	Bosschieter	1774	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Jansz	Popke	Aalte	1773	Amsterdam	Batavia	Jongmatroos	1775	Overleden	📜
Jaspers	Johannes	Brevort in gelderlandt	1730	Haaksburg	Batavia	Tweede chirurgijn	1731	Overleden	📜
Jaspersz	Lucas Johannes	Brevoort	1752	Bloemendaal	Batavia	Derde meester	1762	Overleden	📜
Kalff	Hendrik	Brevoort	1716	Noordbeek	Batavia	Derde barbier	1718	Schip vergaan	📜
Kalff	Ulrich Henrich	Brevoort	1719	Standvastigheid	Batavia	Soldaat	1723	Overleden	📜
Kappers	Hendrick	Alten	1721	Amsterdam	Batavia	Soldaat	1723	Overleden	📜
Kaspersz	Gerrit Jan	Aelten	1724	Berkenrode	Batavia	Soldaat	1725	Overleden	📜
Klomps	Dirk	Aeltem	1763	Gouverneur-generaal	Batavia	Luitenant (militair)	1771	Overleden	📜
Kluijtman	Hendrik	Alten	1724	Boekenrode	Batavia	Soldaat	1735	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Koelman	Jan	Aelten	1723	Heinkenszand	Batavia	Matroos	1725	Overleden	📜
Koelman	Jan	Aalten	1724	Luchtenburg	Batavia	Matroos	1725	Kamer Zeeland	📜
Kolwagen	Engelbertus	Altan	1762	Baarzande	Batavia	Matroos	1769	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Kompff	Zeger Adolph Casper	Alten	1764	Amerongen	Batavia	Soldaat	1764	Overleden	📜
Koolwage	Gerrit	Altene	1690	Lands Welvaren	Batavia	?	?	?	📜
Kooning	Jacob Willem	Bredevoorde	1740	Hogersmilde	Batavia	Soldaat	1740	Overleden	📜
Kos	Gerrit	Breevoort	1754	Herstelder	Batavia	Soldaat	1762	Overleden	📜
Koste	Hendrik Matthijs	Altene	1754	Huis te Boede	Batavia	Bosschieter	1757	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Krakke	Hendrik	Alten	1772	Bartha Petronella	Kaap	Soldaat	1780	Vrijburger	📜
Kriebel	Hendrik	Aalten	1783	Zeeduin	Batavia	Matroos	1787	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Kumpel	Joannes	Alten	1723	Westerdijkshorn	Batavia	Soldaat	1724	Overleden	📜
Lieves	Anthonij	Aalte	1745	Leiden	Batavia	Soldaat	1745	Overleden	📜
Lodewijkus la Ros	Johannes Pieter	Breevoort	1746	Patmos	Batavia	Soldaat	1747	Overleden	📜
Luijting	Goosen	Brefoort	1721	Vaderland Getrouw	Batavia	Soldaat	1729	Overleden	📜
Marcus	Joseph	Alten	1780	Batavia	Batavia	Matroos	1779	Absent bij afvaart	📜
Markeling	Barend	Breevoort	1737	Petronella Alida	Batavia	Grofsmid	1738	Kamer Enkhuizen	📜
Markeling	Barend	Brevoort	1737	Petronella Alida	Kaap	Grofsmid	1744	Overleden	📜
Marrenberg	Joost	Breevoort	1721	Vrieswijk	Ceylon	Bosschieter	1724	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Martense	Isaak	Aalten	1719	Barneveld	Batavia	Soldaat	1721	Gestraft	📜
Martensz	Claas	Brevoort	1711	Horstendaal	Batavia	Bosschieter	1715	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Meij	Jan Hendrik	Alten	1737	Wickenburg	Batavia	Adelborst	1746	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Meijer	Deetloff Asmus	Alten	1767	Tulpenburg	Batavia	Soldaat	1767	Overleden	📜
Meijer	Fredrik	Alten	1771	Kronenburg	Batavia	Matroos	1771	Absent bij afvaart	📜
Meijeringh	Fredrik	Alten	1777	Foreest	Batavia	Soldaat	1781	Overleden	📜
Meijne	Carsien	Brevoort	1693	Karthago	Batavia	?	?	?	📜
Mekman	Jan	Alten	1730	Knapenburg	Ceylon	Matroos	1732	Overleden	📜
Mentingh	Steven	Brevoort	1705	Driebergen	Batavia	Onderbarbier	1706	Overleden	📜
Mentink	Hermanus	Breedevoort	1769	Bovenkerker Polder	Bengalen	Onderkuiper	1770	Overleden	📜
Mierdink	Wessel	Aalten	1761	Voorland	Batavia	Onderkuiper	1761	Absent bij afvaart	📜
Mijnen	Gerrit Jan	Brevoort	1760	Gouverneur-generaal	Batavia	Soldaat	1760	Kamer Amsterdam	📜
Mijnen	Gerrit Jan	Brevoort	1760	Renswoude	Ceylon	Soldaat	1761	Overleden	📜
Moesman	Johan Hendrik	Alen	1771	Geinwens	Ceylon	Matroos	1771	Overgeplaatst	📜
Moesman	Johan Hendrik	Alen	1771	Kronenburg	Batavia	Matroos	1773	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Moesman	Johan Hendrik	Aalden	1775	Vrijheid	Batavia	Matroos	1777	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Moesman	Johan Hendrik	Aalten	1777	Bovenkerker Polder	Bengalen	Bosschieter	1779	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Mosman	Jan Hendrik	Aalden	1773	Honkoop	Batavia	Matroos	1775	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Mosman	Johan Hendrik	Aalden	1779	Wakkerheid	Batavia	Matroos	1785	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Neer	Joost	Breevoort	1763	Vrouwe Elisabeth	Batavia	Soldaat	1764	Overleden	📜
Nielant	Reijnard	Altem in gelderlant	1728	Adelaar	?	Soldaat	?	?	📜
Niewets	Johannes	Brevoort	1737	Duifje	Batavia	Koksmaat	1738	Overleden	📜
Nolting	Jan	Breedevoorde	1741	Bosbeek	Batavia	Soldaat	1749	Gestraft	📜
Orme	Jan	Aalten	1774	Delfshaven	Batavia	Hooploper	1775	Overleden	📜
Orme	Jan	Aalsen	1775	Jonge Hellingman	Batavia	Hooploper	1775	Kamer Delft	📜
Pietersz	Jacob	Breevoort	1734	Meermond	Ceylon	Bosschieter	1742	Vermist	📜
Pietersz	Jan	Aalten	1749	Wildrijk	Batavia	Soldaat	1749	Overleden	📜
Pommer	Harmen Jan	Brevoort	1742	Adrichem	Batavia	Soldaat	1747	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Pommer	Harmen Jan	Breevoort	1749	Rust en Werk	Batavia	Soldaat	1751	Overleden	📜
Pommer	Jan	Breedevoort	1730	Lage Polder	Batavia	?	1742	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Pommer	Jan	Breevoort	1743	Hoop	Batavia	Soldaat	1743	Overleden	📜
Pothuijs	Barend	Aalten	1785	Zoutman	Batavia	Soldaat	1789	Overleden	📜
Pothuijs	Barend	Altan	1788	Vrouwe Katharina Johanna	Batavia	Bosschieter	1789	Kamer Hoorn	📜
Prins	Bernardus	Aalthe	1756	Vrouwe Petronella Maria	Batavia	Korporaal	1757	Overleden	📜
Prins	Gijsbertus Arnoldus	Alten	1773	Honkoop	Batavia	Tweede meester	1775	Overleden	📜 🌳
Prosperts	Ernst	Breevoord	1725	Linschoten	Batavia	Soldaat	1730	Overleden	📜
Reijnders	Abraham Davids	Brevoort	1730	‘t Vliegend hart	Batavia	Hooploper	1735	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Rijtmans	Gerrit	Alten	1779	Willem Frederik	Batavia	Soldaat	1780	Overleden	📜
Roedolf	Harmanus	Breedewoort	1754	Sloten	Batavia	Jongmatroos	1766	Overleden	📜
Rondel	Anthonij	Aalthe	1774	Ouwerkerk	Batavia	Soldaat	1774	Absent bij afvaart	📜
Satinck	Floris	Bredewaart	1732	Paddenburg	Batavia	Onderkoopman	1735	Overleden	📜 🌳
Satink	Floris	Breedevoort	1725	Spiering	Batavia	Sergeant	1727	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Satink	Floris	Brevoort	1729	Jacoba	Batavia	Assistent	1730	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Scakino	Nicolaas	Breevoort	1760	Gouverneur-generaal	Batavia	Soldaat	1791	Overleden	📜
Schenk	Gijsbert	Aalten	1710	Huis te Nieuwburg	Batavia	Soldaat	1716	Overleden	📜
Schenk	Harmen	Aalte komm:	1713	Diemen	Ceylon	Korporaal	1723	Overleden	📜
Schenk	Hendrik	Aalte	1745	Eindhoef	Batavia	Soldaat	1745	Overgeplaatst	📜
Schenk	Hendrik	Aaldi	1746	Huis te Rensburg	Batavia	Soldaat	1747	Laatste vermelding	📜
Schenk	Johannes Josephus	Alteren	1770	Vlissingen	Batavia	Matroos	1770	Absent bij afvaart	📜
Schenk	Johannis Josephus	Alteren	1770	Woestduin	Batavia	Matroos	1770	Absent bij afvaart	📜
Schinck	Gerrit	Alten in ‘t graafschap zutphen	1686	Spierdijk	Batavia	Adelborst	1688	Overleden	📜
Schink	Harman	Aalten	1700	Lek	Ceylon	Soldaat	1712	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Schoonman	Anthoon	Alten	1759	Huis te Manpad	Bengalen	Soldaat	1760	Kamer Amsterdam	📜
Schreuder	Hendrik	Aelten in hanoverse	1767	Walenburg	Batavia	Matroos	1768	Overleden	📜
Schrijver	Jannis	Brevoort	1682	Prins Willem Hendrik	Batavia	Koksmaat	?	?	📜
Schut	Antonie	Brevoort	1716	Doornik	Batavia	Onderbarbier	1717	Overleden	📜
Seneca	Jan Babtist	Alten	1761	Kronenburg	Batavia	Jongmatroos	1763	Overleden	📜
Senk	Johann Coenraad	Alten	1783	Triton	Batavia	Matroos	1793	Laatste vermelding	📜
Sleeter	Mijnold	Alten	1753	Luxemburg	Batavia	Soldaat	1754	Overleden	📜
Slotbo	Anthonij	Aalte	1746	Huis te Manpad	Batavia	Soldaat	1752	Weggelopen	📜
Slotboom	Gerrit Jan	Bredevoort	1739	Beekvliet	Batavia	Derde meester	1741	Schip vergaan	📜
Smeenk	Barent	Aalten	1700	Brandenburg	Batavia	Soldaat	1706	Overleden	📜
Smet	Jan Tjerk	Breedevoort	1775	Noordbeek	Kaap	Matroos	1776	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Smit	Jan Tjerk	Brevoorde	1773	Mars	Batavia	Hooploper	1775	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Smit	Jan Tjerk	Breedevoord	1780	Juno	?	Bottelier	?	?	📜
Smith	Jan Tjerk	Breedevoort	1777	Willem de Vijfde	Ceylon	Matroos	1779	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Starrenberg	Jan	Brevoort	1734	Kerkwijk	Batavia	Jongen	1739	Schip vergaan	📜
Starrenberg	Joost	Brevoort	1725	Gaasperdam	Batavia	Schiemansmaat	1726	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Starrenberg	Joost	Brevoort	1727	Castricum	Batavia	Schieman	1728	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Starrenberg	Joost	Brevoort	1729	Oostrust	Batavia	Schieman	1733	Overleden	📜
Steeke	Direk	Breedevoort	1713	Herstelde Leeuw	Batavia	Jongen	1721	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Steendekker	Hendrik Daniel Gotlieb	Alten	1777	Huis te Krooswijk	Batavia	Hooploper	1778	Kamer Amsterdam	📜
Steenvoort, van	Bart	Aalten	1738	Vis	Batavia	Matroos	1738	Overleden	📜
Stemer	Hendrik	Brevoort	1728	Mijnden	Batavia	Ondermeester	1747	Overleden	📜
Sterk	Bernardus	Aeltun	1763	Lapienenburg	Batavia	Derde meester	1766	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Sterk	Bernardus	Aalte	1767	Tulpenburg	Batavia	Tweede meester	1767	Overleden	📜
Sterk	Jan	Alten	1779	Jonge Hugo	Batavia	Matroos	1780	Overleden	📜
Stomp	Aarnold Christiaan	Brevoort	1738	Voorduin	Batavia	Korporaal	1738	Overleden	📜
Swartenkort	Barent	Breedevoort in gelderland	1787	Slot Capelle	Batavia	Korporaal	1788	Overleden	📜
Swinger	Jacob Jacobse	Breijde voort	1676	Amerika	Batavia	Bosschieter	?	?	📜
Terbeek	Hendrik	Aalte	1737	Nieuwland	Batavia	Derde meester	1738	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Terbeest	Hend.	Alten in gelderland	1707	Zandenburg	Batavia	Adelborst	1708	Overleden	📜
Terroele	Harmen	Aalten	1696	Overnes	Batavia	Soldaat	1699	Overleden	📜
Tielsted	Joost	Brevoort	1708	Meervliet	Batavia	Onderbarbier	1708	Overleden	📜 🌳
Timmerman	Gerardus Lambertus	Brevoort	1779	Dolfijn	Batavia	Matroos	1784	Overleden	📜 🌳
Timmerman	Jan Dirk	Breevoort	1763	Velsen	Batavia	Korporaal	1768	Overleden	📜 🌳
Valentijn	Milnes	Brevoorde	1677	Alexander	Batavia	Adelborst	?	?	📜
Veen	Theodorus Laurens	Bredervoort	1777	Dolfijn	Batavia	Hoogloper	1778	Overleden	📜
Veltkamp	Otto Adam Adolf	Aalten	1771	Huis te Bijweg	Batavia	Jongmatroos	1771	Overleden	📜 🌳
Verbeek	Hendricus	Alte in gelderland	1742	Hofwegen	Batavia	Bottelier	1745	Overleden	📜
Verschagen	Johannes	Brevoort	1680	Afrika	Batavia	Adelborst	1695	Vermist	📜
Verschoor	Jurgen	Alten	1731	Kasteel van Woerden	Batavia	Soldaat	1732	Kamer Amsterdam	📜
Verschoor	Jurgen	Alten	1731	Huis te Marquette	Batavia	Soldaat	1740	Overleden	📜
Verwers	Hendrick	Breevoort	1700	Generale Vrede	Batavia	Matroos	1703	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Verwers	Hendrik	Brevoort	1700	Brandenburg	Batavia	Matroos	1701	Kamer Amsterdam	📜
Vissen	Everardus	Breevoort	1737	Landskroon	Batavia	Soldaat	1738	Overleden	📜
Visser	Evert	Brevaart	1731	Oostrust	Batavia	Adelborst	1735	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Vliet, ter	Carel	Brevoort	1689	Bantam	Batavia	Soldaat	1696	Overleden	📜
Voort, van der	Hoets Carel	Breevoort	1706	Donau	Batavia	Soldaat	1712	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Vrees	Willem	Aalten	1767	Jonge Lieve	Batavia	Ondertimmerman	1769	Overleden	📜
Vries, de	Barend	Alten	1740	Diemermeer	Batavia	Soldaat	1749	Overleden	📜
Vulpen, van	Harme	Aalden	1787	Belvliet	Batavia	Soldaat	1793	Laatste vermelding	📜
Waer	Cenpte Tilande	Brevoort	1637	Zwolle	Batavia	Soldaat	1638	Laatste vermelding	📜
Wassing	Jan	Brevoort	1735	Haamstede	Batavia	Soldaat	1737	Overleden	📜
Wassink	Hendrik	Alten	1762	Amstelveen	Batavia	Kok	1763	Schip vergaan	📜
Weeling	Harmanus	Aalten	1748	Hercules	Ceylon	Soldaat	1750	Overleden	📜
Weeling	Hermanus	Aalten	1748	Westhoven	Batavia	Soldaat	1749	Kamer Amsterdam	📜
Weenink	Jan	Breedevoort	1740	Hofvliet	Batavia	Derde meester	1742	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Weenink	Jan	Brevoord	1743	Heuvel	Batavia	Derde meester	1754	Overleden	📜
Welpshof	Aarnold	Aalten	1716	Barneveld	Batavia	Adelborst	1723	Gerepatrieerd	📜
Wening	Peter Isaak	Bredevoort	1763	‘s Lands Welvaren	Batavia	Matroos	1766	Overleden	📜
Wienekes	Jan Dirk	Alten	1724	Boekenrode	Batavia	Soldaat	1725	Overleden	📜
Wikker	Hendrik	Alten	1729	Midloo	Batavia	Soldaat	1733	Overleden	📜
Willemse	Coenraed	Brevoort	1718	Haften	Batavia	Soldaat	1721	Vermist	📜
Willemshof	Arnoldus	Aelten	1724	Berkenrode	Batavia	Korporaal	1727	Overleden	📜
Willemsz	Dirck	Brevoort	1721	Stadwijk	Batavia	Soldaat	1723	Overleden	📜
Willemsz	Jurrian	Breevoort	1716	Meerhuizen	Batavia	Matroos	1717	Overleden	📜
Wilpshof	Jan	Aalten	1717	Prins Eugenius	Batavia	Soldaat	1719	Overleden	📜
Winter, de	Jan	Altene	1718	Berbices	Batavia	Adelborst	1719	Overleden	📜
Wisse	Barrent	Brevoort	1675	Aardenburg	Tuticorin	Adelborst	?	?	📜
Wissing	Barent	Breevoord	1675	Aardenburg	Tuticorin	Adelborst	?	?	📜
Wolff, de	Johannes	Aalten	1773	Pallas	Batavia	Jongmatroos	1773	Overleden	📜
Woort	Jurriaan	Brevoort	1771	Leiderdorp	Batavia	Metselaar	1772	Overleden	📜 🌳
Woorts	Jan	Bredevoort	1752	Vlietlust	Batavia	Derde meester	1758	Gerepatrieerd	📜 🌳
Woorts	Jan	Bredevoort	1761	Liefde	Batavia	Soldaat	1761	Overleden	📜 🌳
Worms	Wijnand	Aalten	1770	Oud Haarlem	Batavia	Derde meester	1771	Overleden	📜 🌳
Wulffen, van	Gerrit	Brevoort	1733	Castricum	Batavia	Korporaal	1735	Overleden	📜
Zanten, van	Jan	Aalten	1752	Admiraal de Ruyter	Batavia	Soldaat	1753	Overleden	📜

Sources

20 March 1602

Aladna in the Year 828

From historical sources, we know that Aalten was mentioned in 1152 as the parish of Aladon.¹ However, there are indications that the village may have been mentioned much earlier, namely as Aladna in a charter from 828.² Whether this mention actually refers to the current Aalten is still a subject of discussion. Nevertheless, archaeologists consider such an early dating certainly possible. Indeed, traces of human habitation from that time have been found both at De Hoven and on Damstraat.³ In this article, we delve into this ancient mention and examine two different theories.

The deed of gift of Geroward

The charter from 828 describes how, on February 7 of that year, a certain Geroward donated all his possessions, including those in Aladna, to the St. Martin’s Church in ‘Traiectum Veteri’ (Utrecht). Little is known about Geroward’s identity, but he must have been a man of standing. He was presumably a Frankish nobleman in the service of the Carolingian Emperor Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne.

The original charter has not been preserved. What we know about it comes from later copies and transcriptions. The most important source is the ‘Cartulary of Radboud’, compiled in the Abbey of Egmond in the 12th or 13th century. This register contains copies of charters related to the Diocese of Utrecht. Later, this collection was included in the ‘Oorkondenboek van het Sticht Utrecht tot 1301’, compiled by S. Muller Fz. and H.T. Obreen.

Below are the Latin text and the English translation of the charter in question.

Source text

Dum unusquisque presens seculum inhabitat, necessitate nimia cogitur, ut finem suum Dei solo judicio previdere et preoccupare bonis operibus studeat, ne eum inopinata et improvisa mors inveniat.

Idcirco ego Gerouuardus, filius Landuuardi, trado ad ecclesiam sancti Martini, in Traiecto Veteri constituta[m], quicquid mihi hereditatis jure accessit in villa Langhara et in Ellenuuih et in Aladna et in Uuazefelde et in Humelle et in Theodon et in Hesim et in Asnon, cum omnibus adjacentiis, pratis, pascuis, silvis, aquis aquarumve decursibus, necnon et mancipia, quorum hec existunt vocabula: Feginuuard et uxor ejus Liutburn, Meginrauan et uxor ejus Vuerinhild, Albuuard et mater ejus Sigiuuih, Uulfbald et Hadagrim, Grimbald et uxor ejus Adaluuih, Garoberd et uxor ejus Folcuuihc, Arnolf et uxor ejus Adalgard, Saxani et uxor ejus Harduuih Vuerinbald et mater ejus Gerild, Heiegbrath et uxor ejus Meginfrid, Vuarbald et uxor ejus Geruuih, Adalgod et Marcuui, Saxini et Radini, Vulfini et uxor ejus Liuduuar, Odilgard et filius ejus Heriman, Aldric et filius ejus Landric, Gelo et Marcrad, Hungrim et uxor ejus Liuduuih, Aluuih et Seolo, Egbald et Tadhild.

Acta est autem publice in villa Embrici, anno XV imperii domni Hludouuici imperatoris, incarnationis vero Dominice anno DCCCXXVIII, die VII Idus Februarii, coram testibus, qui hanc traditionem presentialiter confirmatam viderunt similiter et vestituram, quorum nomina subter notantur.

Signum Gerouuardi, traditionem hanc peragentis.

[The signs of] Hrauanuuardi, Egisgeri, Sigiberti, Gerberti, Theodansi, Albrici, Albuuardi, Ildiradi, Odilbaldi, Otberti, Roduuigi, Uuerinherdi, Friduberti, Vuibodonis, Ledradi, Geroldi, Gerici, Vuendilberti, Gerharii, Hildirad, Reinheri, Rodberti, Uuarmundi, Aldgeri, Vualonis, Rodhardies, Meinhardi, Hrauaningi, Egelberti, Gerbodi.

Ego Geraccarus jubente domno meo Friderico episcopo scripsi et subscripsi.

Translation

While every man dwells in this earthly life, he is driven by a great necessity to foresee his end only through God’s judgment and to prepare for it through good works, lest death overtake him unexpectedly and unprepared.

Therefore, I, Geroward, son of Landward, transfer to the church of Saint Martin, located in Old Traiectum, everything that has come to me by hereditary right in the villages of Langhara, Ellenwih, Aladna, Wazefelde, Humelle, Theodon, Hesim, and Asnon, with all associated lands, meadows, pastures, forests, waters, and watercourses.

Likewise, I transfer the serfs, whose names are as follows: Feginward and his wife Liutburn, Meginravan and his wife Werinhild, Albward and his mother Sigiwih, Wulfbald and Hadagrim, Grimbald and his wife Adalwih, Garoberd and his wife Folcwih, Arnolf and his wife Adalgard, Saxani and his wife Hardwih, Werinbald and his mother Gerild, Heiegbrath and his wife Meginfrid, Warbald and his wife Gerwih, Adalgod and Marcwi, Saxini and Radini, Wulfini and his wife Liudwar, Odilgard and her daughter Heriman, Aldric and his son Landric, Gelo and Marcrad, Hungrim and his wife Liudwih, Alwih and Seolo, Egbald and Tadhild.

This transfer took place publicly in the settlement of Embrici, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Louis (Hludowicus), and in the year 828 after the incarnation of our Lord, on February 7, in the presence of witnesses who confirmed this transfer and the associated settlement. Their names are listed below.

The mark of Geroward, who performs this transfer.

[The marks of] Hravanward, Egisger, Sigibert, Gerbert, Theodans, Albric, Albward, Ildirad, Odilbald, Otbert, Rodwig, Werinherd, Fridubert, Vuibodo, Ledrad, Gerold, Geric, Vuendilbert, Gerhari, Hildirad, Reinher, Rodbert, Warmund, Aldger, Vualo, Rodhardies, Meinhard, Hravaning, Egelbert, Gerbod.

I, Geraccarus, have written and signed this by order of my lord, Bishop Frederick.

Where was ‘Aladna’ located?

There are two theories regarding the exact location of the places mentioned in the charter:

The Hamaland theory: According to this view, Geroward’s possessions were located in the area that would later become known as the Carolingian county of Hamaland. The place names mentioned in the deed are linked by historians to contemporary locations in the Liemers and the Achterhoek. Within this theory, ‘Aladna’ is identified as the current Aalten.
The North French theory: Another interpretation suggests that the mentioned places were not in the Netherlands, but in Northern France. In this scenario, Aladna would refer to the current Alette, a place in the Pas-de-Calais department. The other place names from the charter would also be located in this area. ⁴

Interpretations of the place names in both theories:

Latin name	Hamaland theory	Northern-France theory
Traiectum Veteri	Utrecht	Tournehem-sur-la-Hem
Langhara	Langerak (near Doetinchem)	Longuerecque
Ellenwih	Heelweg	Herlincourt
Aladna	Aalten	Alette
Wazefelde	Varsseveld or Dwarsfeld near Anholt	Nesles
Humelle	Hummelo	Wimille
Theodon	Didam	Todincthun/Thérouanne
Hesim	the Kniphees farmstead near ‘s-Heerenberg	Hées
Asnon	Azewijn	Assonval
Embrici	Emmerich	Embry

In the eastern regions of the Netherlands, however, it is assumed that the Hamaland theory is the most likely. It is not without reason that the municipality of Aalten named a road after this mention: the Aladnaweg. And in the municipality of Montferland, a street is named after Geroward: the Gerwardstraat in Klein-Azewijn. The theory is centuries old: around 1730, Johann Friedrich Falken created a historical map of ‘the Netherlands in late Roman times’, on which he drew the county of Hamaland, including Aladna.

Conclusion

The mention of Aladna in 828 remains an interesting subject of discussion. Many people consider the Hamaland theory to be the most likely explanation (or is that perhaps mainly wishful thinking?), but the North French interpretation cannot be entirely ruled out. Hopefully, future archaeological and historical research can provide more clarity regarding this early mention.

Origin of the place name

Several theories circulate regarding the origin of the name Aalten. But what are they based on and how credible are they? Oud Aalten delved into history to discover more about this.

Read the full article: Origin of the place name Aalten.

Sources

7 February 0828

Category: Aalten Achteruit

Around 800 AD

The Christianization of Aalten

Churchyard

Health Risks

Royal Decree of 1827

Cemeteries in Aalten

Cemeteries in Bredevoort

Sources

The arrival of the Driessens

Growth of employment

The first factories

Sources

The disappearance

The discovery

The judicial investigation

An unconfirmed rumor

File to Bocholt

Funeral

Sources

Tensions in the House

A Mysterious Death

The Investigation

Further Investigation

Harmen’s Confession

Statement of Gijsberta

The Verdict

Sources

Sentence

Source

The VOC and its administration

Aalten and the VOC: involved from the beginning

What do the data reveal?

Motives for departure

Military roles

Names and data

Sources

The deed of gift of Geroward

Source text

Translation

Where was ‘Aladna’ located?

Conclusion

Origin of the place name

Sources