Oud Aalten

Heritage belongs to everyone

Tag: Dijkstraat

  • St Elisabeth’s Convent

    St Elisabeth’s Convent

    Dijkstraat 8, Aalten

    St Elisabeth’s Convent, Dijkstraat, Aalten

    St Elisabeth’s Convent in Aalten was originally the residence of textile manufacturer Johann Heinrich Joseph (Heinrich) Driessen (Bocholt, 10 July 1794 – Aalten, 4 July 1879). On 29 June 1837, his eldest son, Theodoor, laid the foundation stone.

    Heinrich was also known as “Den veursten Driessen” (The front Driessen); his cousin Anton also lived on what was then Landstraat, in Villa Beekhuize, slightly further south of the town centre, and was therefore known as “d’n achtersten Dreessen” (The rear Driessen).

    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. The driver carried the fitting nickname ‘Ossen Willem’ (Ox Willem).

    After Heinrich’s 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’s wife, Elisabeth. Locally, it was also referred to as the St Elisabeth Institute.

    Education and Nursing

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

    On 23 December 1962, the last sisters left for a convent in Bennebroek. Later, the convent served as accommodation for guest workers.

    On 20 December 1980, a small fire broke out in the completely boarded-up building. Just as a ‘foundation stone’ 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 This has since disappeared as well and has been replaced by an apartment building named ‘Kloosterhof’ (Convent Court).

    Owners

    Overview is incomplete.

    YearPlotOwnerDescription
    1832I-1208Peter Driessen, merchant in Bocholt410 m² house & yard

    Residents

    1813

    Aalten 45

    Gerrit Peters (Heerde, 25-07-1769), tanner

    1 man
    1 woman
    1 son
    4 daughters
    1 old woman

    Population register 1823-1838

    Aalten 45

    Gerrit Peters (Heerde, 24-09-1769), tanner
    Johanna Margreta ten Dam (Aalten, 29-10-1774)

    Next residents:

    Johan Hend. Joseph Driessen (Bocholt/D, 10-07-1794), merchant
    Marie Carolina Elisabeth Sträter (Rheine/D, 13-03-1803)

    Population register 1838-1850

    Aalten 44

    Johan Henrich Joseph Driessen (Bocholt/D, 10-07-1794), manufacturer & merchant
    Marie Caroline Elisabeth Sträter (Rheine/D, 13-03-1803)

    Population register 1850-1860

    Aalten 44

    Johan Henrich Joseph Driessen (Bocholt/D, 10-07-1794), merchant
    Maria Carolina Elisabeth Sträter (Rheine/D, 13-03-1803)

    Population register 1860-1870

    Aalten 44

    Johan Henrich Joseph Driessen (Bocholt/D, 10-07-1794), manufacturer
    Maria Carolina Elisabeth Josephina Sträter (Rheine/D, 13-03-1803)

    Population register 1870-1880

    Aalten 61

    Johann Heinrich Joseph Driessen (Bocholt/D, 10-07-1794), manufacturer

    Next (head) resident (1879-1882):

    Bernhard Heinrich Groot Langenhoff (Dingden/D, 13-09-1833), servant

    Population register 1880–-1890

    Aalten 66

    Bernhard Heinrich Groot Langenhoff (Dingden/D, 13-09-1833), farmer

    Next (head) resident (1882-1901):

    Barbara Elizabeth Elzeman (Gouda, 06-10-1835), sister of charity

    Population register 1890-1900

    Aalten 65

    Barbera Elisabeth Elseman (Gouda, 06-10-1835)

    Population register 1900-1910

    Aalten 82 > A20

    Barbera Elisabeth Elseman (Gouda, 06-10-1835)

    Next (head) resident:

    Geertje Ruijter (Westwoud, 08-06-1857)

    Population register 1910-1920

    Aalten A20

    Geertje Ruijter (Westwoud, 08-06-1857), mother superior

    Next (head) resident:

    Aalten A20 > A6

    Aafke van der Werf (Bolsward, 21-10-1872), nurse

    Address directory 1934

    Aalten A6 > Dijkstraat 8

    Convent

    Address directory 1967

    Dijkstraat 8

    Former Convent

    Features

    Cadastral no.I-11429
    FunctionResidential,
    Convent
    Year of construction1837
    Demolitionc. 1981

    Sources

    Institute for Roman Catholic education, 3 January 1882
    Arnhemsche Courant, 3 January 1882
    St Elisabeth's Convent, Dijkstraat, Aalten
    St Elisabeth’s Convent, Dijkstraat, Aalten
    Dijkstraat 8, Aalten
    St Elisabeth's Institute, Aalten
    St Elisabeth’s Institute, Aalten
    Dijkstraat 8-11, Aalten
    Front door of St Elisabeth's Convent, Aalten
    Front door of St Elisabeth’s Convent, Aalten
    Rear entrance of St Elisabeth's Convent and St Jozef's School, c.1975
    Rear entrance of St Elisabeth’s Convent and St Jozef’s School, c.1975
  • Beekhuize

    Beekhuize

    Dijkstraat 14, Aalten

    Villa Beekhuize, Dijkstraat, Aalten

    Villa Beekhuize serves as a reminder of the heyday of the textile industry in the village of Aalten.

    Textile manufacturer Anton Driessen initially lived with the Meijerink family on Kerkstraat upon his arrival in Aalten. Later, he purchased a property on Landstraat. In 1833, Anton Driessen wished to build a new residence. To this end, he had purchased a house from the Degenaar estate at the end of Landstraat—the present-day Dijkstraat. He intended to demolish that house and construct a new, modern home on the site, complete with a warehouse, barn, and stables. However, he required more space than the existing plot provided. Anton Driessen subsequently submitted a proposal to the municipal authorities.

    This plan necessitated the diversion of both the stream and the street. Furthermore, a new bridge was required. Because the piles of the old bridge had nearly rotted away, the construction of a new bridge was not only highly necessary but, according to Driessen, the relocation would also be less costly. In addition to diverting the stream and building a new bridge, Driessen also required land for his plans. To this end, he exchanged a plot of land with the municipality. Negotiations regarding the aforementioned matters lasted several years. Construction finally commenced in March 1835.

    In addition to Anton Driessen, his nephew Heinrich also built a house on what was then Landstraat. Heinrich Driessen positioned a generous residence closer to the town centre, for which his eldest son, Theodoor, laid the foundation stone on 29 June 1837. Ever since, locals have referred to the two properties as ‘d’n veursten’ (the front) and ‘d’n achtersten Dreessen’ (the rear Driessen).

    Owners

    Overview is incomplete.

    YearPlotOwnerDescription
    1832I-1231
    I-1233    		Jan Berend Lohuis199 m² house & yard
    2.250 m² garden

    Residents

    1813

    Aalten 37

    Johannes Degenaar (Aalten, 25-10-1779), weaver son
    Evert Degenaar (Aalten, 10-05-1744), weaver father

    1 man
    1 woman
    1 father
    3 boys

    Population register 1823-1837

    Aalten 37

    Hendrika Luijten (Aalten, 16-09-1784), widow of Johannes Degenaar

    Next residents:

    Aalten 37

    Johannes Bernardus Antonius Driessen (Bocholt, 05-12-1797 – Aalten, 07-03-1879)
    Isabella Lodewika Antoinetta Dees (Bocholt, 04-11-1800 – Aalten, 15-12-1879)

    Population register 1838-1851

    Aalten 35

    Johannes Bernardus Antonius Driessen (Bocholt, 05-12-1797 – Aalten, 07-03-1879)
    Isabella Lodewika Antoinetta Dees (Bocholt, 04-11-1800 – Aalten, 15-12-1879)

    Population register 1850-1861

    “Landstraat”

    Aalten 35

    Johan Bernard Anton Driessen (Bocholt, 05-12-1797 – Aalten, 07-03-1879)
    Isabella Lodewika Antonetta Dees (Bocholt, 04-11-1800 – Aalten, 15-12-1879)

    Population register 1860-1870

    Aalten 35

    Joh. Bernard Anton Driessen (Bocholt, 05-12-1797 – Aalten, 07-03-1879)
    Isabella Lodewika Antonetta Dees (Zutphen, 04-11-1800 – Aalten, 15-12-1879)

    Population register 1870-1880

    Aalten 54

    Johan Bernard Anton Driessen (Bocholt, 05-12-1797 – Aalten, 07-03-1879)
    Isabella Lodewika Antonetta Dees (Zutphen, 04-11-1800 – Aalten, 15-12-1879)

    Next (head) resident:

    Helena Dorothea Elisabeth Driessen (Aalten, 09-06-1840 – Aalten, 21-04-1918)

    Population register 1880-1890

    Aalten 57

    Helena Dorothea Elisabeth Driessen (Aalten, 09-06-1840 – Aalten, 21-04-1918)

    Next residents:

    Johannes Henricus Lambertus van den Hurck (Den Bosch, 14-11-1840), office clerk
    Wilhelmina Philomena Maria Kroes (Den Bosch, 30-07-1844)

    Next (head) resident:

    Helena Dorothea Elisabeth Driessen (Aalten, 09-06-1840 – Aalten, 21-04-1918), widow of Johannes Antonius van Basten Batenburg

    Population register 1890-1900

    Aalten 57

    Helena Dorothea Elisabeth Driessen (Aalten, 09-06-1840 – Aalten, 21-04-1918)

    Population register 1900-1910

    Aalten A79 > A23

    Helena Dorothea Elisabeth Driessen (Aalten, 09-06-1840 – Aalten, 21-04-1918)

    Population register 1910-1920

    Aalten A23

    Helena Dorothea Elisabeth Driessen (Aalten, 09-06-1840 – Aalten, 21-04-1918)

    Next resident:

    Aalten A23 > A9

    Maria Petronella Johanna Koster (Epe, 21-11-1881)

    Address directory 1934

    Aalten A8/1 > Dijkstraat 14

    H.J.A.M. Driessen

    Address directory 1967

    Dijkstraat 14

    H.J.A.M. Driessen

    Features

    Cadastral no.I-11032
    FunctionHouse
    Year of construction1835
    ListedNational monument

    Sources

    Dijkstraat, Aalten (1875), with the Roman Catholic church still at the beginning of the street.
    Beekhuize (1875), with the Roman Catholic church still at the beginning of the street.
    Dijkstraat 14, Aalten – Beekhuize
    Dijkstraat 14, Aalten – Beekhuize