In the 19th century, dozens of people from Aalten emigrated to Brazil in search of a new life. They were part of a wider wave of emigration from the Achterhoek, during which thousands of people left their native region for religious or economic reasons.
This wave of emigration began around 1844. Among the first groups of emigrants were many Afgescheidenen (Seceders) who left their homeland because of their religious convictions. In the following decades, others followed, primarily driven by economic motives, partly due to crop failures and increasing poverty.
Between 1844 and 1894, an estimated six to seven thousand people emigrated from the Achterhoek — nearly a third of the rural population. Most of them chose the United States. Nevertheless, between 1835 and 1880, 204 people from Gelderland also departed for Brazil, mainly to the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
From Aalten too, dozens of people packed their bags to try their luck in Brazil. Those currently known to us are listed below.”

Do you have any information about former residents of Aalten who emigrated to Brazil? We’d love to hear from you!
Aalten emigrants to Brazil
| Achternaam | Voornaam | Geb.datum | Emigratie | Laatste NL adres | Graf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniels | Maria Elisabeth | 16-12-1815 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 170a (Lichtenvoordsestraatweg 7) | |
| Hendriksen | Frederika Geertruida | 30-03-1818 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 211a (Nieuwstraat) | |
| Hendriksen | Hendrik Jan | 03-03-1843 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 211a (Nieuwstraat) | |
| Hendriksen | Willemina | 22-11-1821 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 211a (Nieuwstraat) | |
| Huning | Hanna Frederika | 09-03-1857 | 12-07-1859 | Aalten 77 (Hogestraat 35) | |
| Huning | Johann | 11-09-1843 | 12-07-1859 | Aalten 77 (Hogestraat 35) | |
| Huning | Johann Heinrich | 06-10-1852 | 12-07-1859 | Aalten 77 (Hogestraat 35) | |
| Huning | Ludwig | 27-06-1849 | 12-07-1859 | Aalten 77 (Hogestraat 35) | |
| Huning | Wilhelmus | 19-11-1810 | 12-07-1859 | Aalten 77 (Hogestraat 35) | |
| Jansen | Aleida | 13-03-1851 | 08-07-1858 | Aalten 260a (Bredevoortsestraat) | |
| Jansen | Dersken | 26-08-1812 | 08-07-1858 | Aalten 260a (Bredevoortsestraat) | |
| Jansen | Harmina | 10-10-1835 | 08-07-1858 | Aalten 260a (Bredevoortsestraat) | |
| Kalb | Elisabeth | 28-12-1856 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 208 (Bredevoortsestraatweg 14) | |
| Kalb | Johanna | 11-07-1853 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 208 (Bredevoortsestraatweg 14) | |
| Kalb | Johanna Geertruida | 17-04-1858 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 208 (Bredevoortsestraatweg 14) | |
| Kalb | Johanna Margaretha | 04-08-1848 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 208 (Bredevoortsestraatweg 14) | |
| Kalb | Johannes | 07-01-1850 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 208 (Bredevoortsestraatweg 14) | |
| Kalb | Mina | 05-12-1854 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 208 (Bredevoortsestraatweg 14) | |
| Kalb | Peter | 12-08-1842 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 208 (Bredevoortsestraatweg 14) | |
| Kalb | Peter | 30-12-1818 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 208 (Bredevoortsestraatweg 14) | |
| Kempers | Berendjen | 26-06-1842 | 08-07-1858 | Aalten 260a (Bredevoortsestraat) | |
| Kempers | Garritdiena Hendrika | 20-11-1838 | 08-07-1858 | Aalten 260a (Bredevoortsestraat) | |
| Kempers | Manus | 03-04-1845 | 08-07-1858 | Aalten 260a (Bredevoortsestraat) | |
| Kempers | Willem | 10-11-1847 | 08-07-1858 | Aalten 260a (Bredevoortsestraat) | |
| Loohuis | Harmen Jan | 08-12-1813 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 175? (Kattenberg) | |
| Meinen | Gerrit Jan | 15-04-1856 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 211a (Nieuwstraat) | |
| Meinen | Gesina | 29-12-1857 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 211a (Nieuwstraat) | |
| Meinen | Grada | 03-12-1851 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 211a (Nieuwstraat) | |
| Meinen | Jan Willem | 16-03-1823 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 211a (Nieuwstraat) | |
| Meinen | Joanna Geertruid | 19-01-1847 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 211a (Nieuwstraat) | |
| Meinen | Willemina | 24-04-1849 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 211a (Nieuwstraat) | |
| Nieuwenhuis | Antonij | 27-07-1833 | 08-07-1858 | Aalten 201a (Achterstraat) | |
| Ritters | Berendina Theodora | 27-04-1847 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 170a (Lichtenvoordsestraatweg 7) | |
| Ritters | Catharina Elisabeth | 30-01-1842 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 170a (Lichtenvoordsestraatweg 7) | |
| Ritters | Frederikus Hendrikus | 28-01-1857 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 170a (Lichtenvoordsestraatweg 7) | |
| Ritters | Hendrik | 16-11-1813 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 170a (Lichtenvoordsestraatweg 7) | |
| Ritters | Hendrik Lambertus | 09-07-1840 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 170a (Lichtenvoordsestraatweg 7) | |
| Ritters | Johannes | 10-09-1850 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 170a (Lichtenvoordsestraatweg 7) | |
| Ruessink | Hendrikus Christoffel | 04-09-1834 | 29-08-1858 | IJzerlo 39 (De Woerd) | |
| Straks | Hendrika | 27-10-1805 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 175? (Kattenberg) | |
| Tjallings | Johanna | 15-06-1815 | 29-08-1858 | Aalten 208 (Bredevoortsestraatweg 14) | |
| Vogel | Elisabeth | 1810 | 12-07-1859 | Aalten 77 (Hogestraat 35) |

