Grand parents

The family

Huibregt Klapwijk 22-4-1892 died 15-5-1973

Neeltje Jannetje Van Dijk 3-11-1895 died 10-3-59

children

Arie 3-4-19 to 20-10-2005

Gerbrand 3-4-20 17-1-1979

krijntje – (Greta) 16-10-21 August 2016

Huibregt 2-4-23 25-5-2006

Neeltje 26-9-24 22-10-08

Jacoba (granny) 21-9-25 22-12-2015

Phillipus (Phillip) 14-7-27

Jannetje – Janni 11-3-29

Herdrika – Rika 25-9-30 27-9-2012

Gerrit 10-9-32

Pieter 18-1-34 25-5-1953

Lena – Lanni 17-12-36 13-10-1993

Huibregt Klapwijk (Hubert in English) and Neeltje Jannetje Van Dijk ( Nelly in English) were both from large families of 12. Hubert's older brother Gerrit married Aunty Fei Great grandmothers elder sister. They lived on the island of Rozenburg on the river Maas, upstream of Hoek van Holland. The main town Maassluis was over the river and accessible by ferry only. Today the area down stream has been reclaimed and is now Europort the largest oil terminal in Europe. A bridge links Europort to Rozenburg, and further docks and refineries are upstream of what was once a quiet island. It is now a commuter town for the oil industry. I last visited it in 1974 and was shocked at the place. It made Holbury (where we lived when you were born) look like a rural retreat. But in your great grandparents day it was a backwater rural horticultural island growing good crops on esturial silt.

How they met is conjecture what is known is Nelly was in service to the rich landowner, and possibly a distant relative. It is not known if she originally came from Rozenburg or moved to take up her position. Hubert a resident of Rozenburg was an itinerant horticultural labourer. Some say they both worked at a time for the big house but had to leave when they had to marry. This was because Arie was on the way. The other version is they met when Fei married. Nelly was always harping back to the days in service, the right way to do thinks and the trappings of money.

Hubert was down to earth, opinionated, obdurate, hard working and honest, obviously destined for a hard life in poverty.

In those days sex before marriage was frowned upon, the average age of marriage was 20 to 21. At 24 Nelly was very much on the shelf and working in service would be destined to remain a spinster serving the family until utterly dependant for survival thus totally loyal. They were expected to be hard working, honest, thrifty, and religious. That way they knew their place and would be satisfied with their lot. Religion emphasised contentment in what God had allotted your position in life.

The rich family had two sons that went to university, education was beyond the reach or aspirations of servants. She was not thick and picked up many things including a smattering of French the language of education.

When cast out of service she would have had nothing, no pension, no savings, no dowry, and more damning no reference. She was totally dependant on what Hubert could earn, which was little. In the next six years she had six children so went from being poor to being destitute.

Nelly's time in service taught her self reliance, how to cook clean and repair clothing all these skills she would need just to survive. Hubert was less conventional. Most of his past is shrouded in mystery but whispers from friends and enemies paint a troubled past.

Belgium had separated from Holland in the 19^th century and was a separate country when Hubert was born. Belgium was mainly catholic French speaking or Walloon. The northern coastal strip was still Flemish, Dutch speaking. The Schlieffen plan was to invade France through Holland but Moltke modernised the plan and did not invade Holland in 1914 but kept it neutral. Neutrality did not mean free from pain both allies and Germany wanted what Holland produced and blockaded the other side to ensure they didn't get anything. As a result conscription was introduced. Hubert shot off the little finger on his right hand. It is not sure if this was done once conscripted to get discharged or done to ensure he did not get conscripted.

Holland suffered severe food shortages with riots over potatoes and bread. Smuggling into and out of Holland was rife and an electric fence ran the length of the Belgium border. Many smugglers were shot or electrocuted on the fence. Hubert smuggled.

At the end of the war Hubert was living in Rozenburg making do with any work including smuggling and vegetable picking. Arie was conceived before the armistice. The period of peace did not mean prosperity for this young couple.