A Boy from Flakkee: The Story of a Young Boy Who Grew up on the Island of Goeree and Overflakkee in the Southwest Region of the Netherlands
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A Boy from Flakkee: The Story of a Young Boy Who Grew up on the Island of Goeree and Overflakkee in the Southwest Region of the Netherlands
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Overview
Modernization was unheard of. There was no television, or modern appliances like a washer, dryer, and refrigerator. People were poor and many families were quite large. Roland came from a family of seven children. He was the second oldest of six brothers and one sister. As many families found out, each day was a struggle. For the Krygsman family, growing up during the depression period meant that they all needed to work together. Each child was to be treated equally. Each received just enough to survive. There was never abundance; only what each child would get from mother and father. Even grandpa and grandma from both sides of the family assisted in caring for all the children. It was truly a family affair. Mother and father shouldn't have picked their favorites, but they did. Roland would come to find out sooner than later in his young life that he wasn't wanted. How could such loving parents like his deny him of love or to be loved? It is through our childhood that helps shape us into the men and women we become. How we reach that pinnacle is embedded in our minds. As children, we dream of someday becoming someone we can respect, honor, and adore. We all have dreams, but somehow many are robbed of the grand scheme and fall short in life. We have to settle for less and of course, our play on life is distorted. We are locked into life's grip of being less than worthy. We share feelings of inadequacy and failure and wonder aimlessly through life looking for the right answers. Roland was such a boy who developed into a young man looking for life's answers. As a young boy he suffered the loss of a dear brother and was destined to forever try winning over his mother and father's admiration. While going from childhood to adolescence, he faced many challenges and adventures that would have many children today standing in awe. From repairing to rebuilding bicycles, Roland hustled to carve out a piece of his own stake. Attending technical school to become a dental assistant, he persevered to achieve the most in life.
Some of his adventures are shared with the reader. Throughout all what he lived through life was never simple.
During the Second World War Roland's bravery and tolerance would be tested by the enemy. This was no horror movie. Death was all around him, his family, and the people of his country. There were no sides to take. Either obey the Nazis or be killed. He saw so many of his friends and acquaintances who died trying to escape, or working for their cause. As far as he was concerned, he wanted nothing to do with his oppressors. He vowed that he would do everything in his power to escape their dictatorship. In many ways he did elude them and even was able to trick them. In many other circumstances, however, it was devastating. Seeing many Jewish families pulled apart from one another, and their untimely deaths persuaded him that he needed to always be in constant vigilance. Young crew members perished from the skies as they were en route to Germany's packed cities to deliver their weapons of mass destruction. Right before their eyes they watched as these planes, like sitting ducks, were plucked out of the sky one by one. As they blew up in midair, many fell to their deaths, or were burned alive. It was a scene never to be forgotten. Many of who survived relived these nightmares over and over. When the war was finally over, life in the Netherlands would slowly return to normal. Now was the time to rebuild the cities and restore life to a country that was once under Hitler's oppression. Once again, Roland needed to step up and be accountable for his life.It was always a struggle though.
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The war was over in Holland in 1945 and life continued on. Roland met his wife, Leny Klink from a town near his own. He eventually wed his beautiful bride and settled in Rotterdam. Life was good and he was making a decent living. He had his bride, a brand new BSA motorcycle, and a good paying job. It was a rough winter in that year of 1953. With uncertainty, a northeaster storm hit the southwest side of the island, breaching the dikes and punching a hole, causing a wall of sea water to roll over the town and its people. Many drowned as a result of the storm. Roland assisted in the recovery effort and rescued many from certain death. He himself had once again cheated death; stared it in the face and had conquered it. Holland's island of Overflakkee was once again faced with the rebuilding effort.
During this time with a young bride in hand and a future wide open, he would, like many before him make a choice that would lead him to the land of opportunity, America. Like his uncle Arend and his aunt Lena, Roland was determined to claim his own piece of Americana. The voyage by ship was an adventure on both occasions. Looking for work, an apartment, and raising a family all became part of the course. He and his devoted wife, Leny would raise three sons and settle in a little town known as Clifton in the great state of New Jersey. He did live the American Dream of moving to America and raising his family. Opportunity presented itself and he took a gamble and won out at the end. Not bad for someone with the clothes on their back, two suitcases, and a wooden box coming to a foreign land and starting a new life. The most important lesson though, is he had his own family and incorporated all the love he and Leny could give. Family is and will always be of the greatest importance. It is the main ingredient that drives him even today.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781452090368 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 10/27/2010 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 1 |
| File size: | 1 MB |
Read an Excerpt
A BOY FROM FLAKKEE
The story of a young boy who grew up on the island of Goeree and Overflakkee in the southwest region of the NetherlandsBy ROLAND KRYGSMAN
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 Roland KrygsmanAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-9035-1
Chapter One
BIRTH AND THE BEGINNING
It was a cold snowy day on December 15, 1928 that I was born in the small town of Middelharnis on the island of Goeree and Overflakkee in the province of South Holland. Basje, the midwife had come over to our home and helped with the birth and to care for my brother, Johan who was born on January 14th of that same year. She was an old woman dressed in traditional costume, all in black except her lace hat. She was a pleasant woman who stayed a week to care for my family. My mother and father were grateful for the help she provided.
It was depression time and many of the people in our town as well as our country were poor. During the winter months, jobs were hard to come by. Farmers weren't able to provide work for the townspeople and industry was brought to a halt. The small island contained thirteen villages and the main one was our town, Middelharnis. Our town had our own harbor and provided a ferry boat for traveling across the waters to the mainland. A small steam train ran through our town as well. It provided yet another means of transporting people and supplies to each of the thirteen villages on the island. There were even a few schools in our town. Education meant that our people had a means to better their future. As one of the larger towns, we had our share of many variety stores. For a period, Middelharnis was known for their harbor and fishing fleet. Many of the townsmen worked tediously both on and off the fishing boats and in small factories that made many products and supplies for the fleet. To name a few of the suppliers, we had a basket factory, a tanning manufacturer, a twine place that specialized in making ropes, lines, and netting. A local blacksmith serviced farmers by making new shoes for the horses, tool making, and repairs for local businesses. Carpentry and masonry were slow. Sewing and the making of clothes was primarily done by individual families. Only some clothes could be purchased with the little money families had.
The home I first grew up in was built partially on a dike and a slope. It was very small for our family. It contained a common room for eating and socializing and two small alcoves for sleeping. We had no electric or gas supplied to our home. Kerosene was the main source of fuel used for cooking and light. A pot belly stove was on one side of the room that gave off heat and was used for cooking. Rainwater was collected in the form of a drywell used for drinking and washing. An outhouse was located in the rear that had no light, heat, or running water. It was very cold in the winter.
Nevertheless, life on our island was very quiet and uneventful. Our town was located furthest on the island in relation to the other villages and it was the closest to the bay of the North Sea. Our home like others nearby, were protected from the bay by a form of dikes or known today as levees. The bay was located two kilometers (about one-point-five miles) from our town. There were three dikes that protected the people and their homes. The first dike was known as the Watchman. It was closest to the bay. The second was known as the Sleeper. The Sleeper was located more inland than the first dike. The third and last dike was known as the Dreamer. This was known as the last defense against rising waters and a possible breach of the other dikes due to a harsh storm. These dikes were closest to our home and others. The worst of storms would occur during the winter months where the dikes would be tested for their strength against the winter's elements. Northeastern storms would cause high tides and large waves.
Diligently my father worked part-time for a local carpenter shop and both my mother and father were very young when they started a family. We didn't have welfare or any other financial support. We were fortunate that Grandpa and Grandma lived nearby. They helped with food and clothing and they sometimes were even helpful with finances too. Our family was very large. All of my grandparents were alive and we had lots of aunts, uncles and cousins mostly living in our town. I was named Roeland after my mother's dad. He was a produce inspector for a group of farmers on the island and also rented farmland where he grew potatoes, onions, and other produce. He was a quiet and gentle man. I don't remember ever seeing him angry. My grandmother was a homemaker and proclaimed that she was a devout Christian woman. She attended to affairs of the home and was best known as a gossiper, making false accusations against people. My other grandparents on my father's side were very successful in business. They lived in a large house and raised cattle and pigs. My grandfather had the tendency of having a hot temper when angered, but my grandmother was an angel. I remember her having a kind and loving heart. It wasn't hard to love and adore her. Both sides of my grandparents were known as my Oma and Opa in the Dutch language which means, grandma and grandpa. Life was very hard and demanding with such a large family. We, like many other families had our share of problems and dealt with them the best way we knew how.
CHILDHOOD
Father had gotten an old baby carriage and had constructed a second seat so my brother, Johan and I could ride in it. We really enjoyed the fun in this new cart. A year would pass and another brother came into this world. My mother and father named him Jan Hendrik. Again Basje, the midwife arrived at our home to help with delivery and care of our family. It wasn't much time after the birth of my brother that we had outgrown our old home and would move to another home on the Oostdijk(East Dike). This home was larger than our old one and we even had gas for cooking and light. Our attic loft was large enough for all of us to sleep in and we could enjoy a tiny yard where we could play. The roof was in dire need of repair. It developed leaks and my mother had to use pots and pans to collect dripping water during rain storms. Winter in this home was long and cold. There was only one room in the house that supplied heat. It was the common room where we would eat our meals, socialize, and gather together. It had a small round potbelly stove which provided heat and a small cooking surface on the top portion. It would burn all day and night. The fire would go out during the night and had to be restocked and relit. Sometimes temperatures would go down past zero degrees Fahrenheit. Any water pipes inside would freeze. It felt like an icebox.
My mother would fill a pail with water before it could freeze. However, you would still have to break the ice and melt it back to water which would always feel very cold.
Heavy snow made the narrow streets very difficult for traveling. There were no snowplows and everyone had to work with shovels and clear narrow sidewalks of wet, heavy snow and ice. My father was always thinking and very creative. He made a pad for the sled to get firewood needed for the stove. Isolation on our island happened many times as a result of ice forming in the bay due to freezing temperatures. It would get so cold that the ferryboat could not break through the thick ice. Mail, newspapers, and even medications were sometimes dropped by small planes during the day. Nightfall would come and we would all go to bed early sleeping in the one room. Mother had bought three horse blankets and stitched them all together so that we could stay warm. Winters were long and began in November. They would last well into mid-April the following year. If it was too cold to sleep, we would take turns sitting in front of the potbelly stove. The gas lamp we had was the only one that our family could afford. It had a sock ceramic piece that would sometimes break and would have to be replaced. The gas meter was located in the front hall next to the well that collected the rain water. As the light began to dim, you had to get a two and a half cent coin to run the meter by placing it in the slot. There were times it was so dark it made it difficult finding the coin slot. The kitchen was below with a small kerosene lamp, two small gas stoves, and two small kerosene stoves. Hot water was made when we boiled it in a kettle on the stove. We were fortunate that we did not have to go outdoors to an outhouse. We had a small room located in the back of the kitchen. Each time we used it, we used a pail of water for flushing purposes. We sure were lucky to have this convenience. However, winters were very frustrating when the water froze. On the other side of the kitchen was a heavy door and behind it was a dark room with an earthen floor. It had no light and a small opening in the door when it was closed. If we misbehaved, our punishment was sitting in that room. The door would be locked and it would be pitch-dark. If you were afraid of the dark, that was punishment alone. Mother also would use this room as an icebox or cellar for keeping vegetables and other foods fresh.
A year later, my brother William (Willy) was born. I now had three brothers. As usual, Basje took care of the birth and our family. We were told to be quiet as the new baby slept. Help was needed even more so. Both grandparents and other relatives helped with child care, diapers, and food. We never went hungry, but dessert, snacks, and candy were unaffordable. We didn't have much, but we had each other. The depression made it a hard time for us all. We were healthy and content as we played in our little room and thankful that we had just enough food to survive. Sometimes neighbors slaughtered a pig and gave us some of the pork and lard. Others still would offer us eggs from their chickens.
My father still hadn't found a steady job and had to do odd jobs for people in order for our family to survive. One of my uncles, a brother of my mother, left Holland and immigrated to America. He would later tell me that when I was nine months old that he pulled me in a cardboard box on the floor of our home.
My uncle Arend settled in Paterson, New Jersey in the United States and later moved to Clifton, New Jersey where he established his own family and lived there for a long time.
Unlike the United States, there was only one doctor in our town. Doctor Knops was a huge man who cared for his patients by pulling teeth, delivering babies, dressing wounds, and addressing other medical needs throughout the community. Doctor Arends, a surgeon was located in Sommalsdyk, a village next to ours in a small hospital. In this hospital, he performed operations and cared for patients who had serious illnesses. My earliest memory of Doctor Arends was that he was a very tall and thin man with hair as white as snow. He was a gentle soul, soft spoken, and admired for his compassion. He owned a D.K.W. (Dampf Kraft Wagen), a small two-stroke engine car. On snowy days, he would pull us on our wooden sleds through the town with his car.
As my brothers and I grew up, we were all known by the townspeople. My family was always dressed neatly thanks to the help of family and friends. My mother bought blue coveralls for all of us. Everyone then knew we were bothers just by what we wore. We walked to school with our wooden shoes and only on Sundays were we permitted to wear our sandals to Sunday school.
There was even a time I remembered the fishing industry in our town. When it came to an end, there was no profit to be made by catching fish. My heart was saddened that the fisherman could no longer make their living in this industry. Where boats were once repaired and repainted, now became a coal yard. Another small warehouse had a little tower that was used as an observation post for incoming boats during times of inclement weather. A man was stationed in this tower and could see the sails of the ships when coming in from the North Sea. The sails on these ships were brown and contained white lettering and numbers used to identify each ship. MD2 was the ship from our town. Many fisherman did not return after a storm and whole crews were considered lost at sea. A small street was named the Visserstaat (The Fishing Street) where many of the widows lived who lost not only husbands, but sons as well. Later when I went to school, I spoke to some old fishermen who told old stories of their trips taken on the North Sea. Many of these fishermen and their sons went as far as England, the mainland, and other harbors to make their living. Only the towns of Stellendam, Goeree, and Ouddorp had a small fishing fleet. The widows and their children didn't receive much support when they lost loved ones in the sea. Many of them opened small businesses working as knitters, selling groceries, or other handcrafted items in order to survive. It was a great struggle for them as they were the only providers of their families. We were soon old enough for school. We went to a small school located in the Ring, which was a street that went around a church in town. One of the schoolteachers was the youngest sister of my father. Her name was Miss Pieta. Miss Vis, and the head teacher, Ms. Sonnveld made up the roster of faculty members. It was in that school where I performed in a play, "I am the Great Magician." I was dressed up in a fire red costume with a pointed hat. The play was such a success I was rewarded with a new toy car that had lights and batteries. The wife of the local postmaster gave the toy to me as a reward for my dedication to the work in that play. Of course, I had this toy for a long time. It made me happy and my brothers extremely jealous so I let them play with it on occasion. We really didn't have many toys, only one or two that my father made for us. I guess you could understand why they would have been envious.
Most of my time was spent with Grandma Wilma, my mother's mom. Her father, Grandpa Piet lived with them and he was known as my great grandfather. He lived in the front room of that house where he had a lot of old items in a large cabinet. When I looked in the cabinet, I saw an old clock with heavy weights, an old army box, and old pipes with tobacco in a small pot. He wore a woolen cap when he slept and had a knitted rope suspended from the ceiling that he used to assist himself in pulling himself up from the bed. I found it always fascinating to see all the things he had in the drawers of that cabinet which reached all the way to ceiling. He was responsible for teaching us to walk. We went on many tours of the town with him. Opa Piet, as he was called, had many friends. One was a large man with a long beard and uncut fingernails. His name was Simon Koote. He lived close to a windmill in the next town of Sommelsdijk. When we visited him, I was afraid to move once I sat. I was afraid of my great grandfather and whenever he left that room and his company, I let out a sigh of relief. Another gentleman I remember was Klaas Zaayer. He was a policeman who was responsible for lighting all the gas streetlamps at night. I thought he wasn't a bad guy and he would always say, "Be a good boy and then I won't have to put you in jail." My thought was, if I am bad, would he really put me in jail? I never would stick around to find out though.
Because our island was about thirty-two miles long and four and one half miles wide, you could get to most of the villages by train or bus. An old steam powered locomotive pulled passenger cars as well as freight from west to south. On board were a machinist and stoker, who had to first fire up the boiler and handle the controls of the train. A conductor was on board to check tickets. The train ran on time with the ferry boats and made each run every 1½ hours. Once you reached the mainland, you could take a train that would go all the way to the big city of Rotterdam.
One evening father had brought home a bag with scrap pieces of wood. From them, he made a toy train and cut wheels from a broom stick. My train was green. Johan's was red. Jan's was blue and Willy's was yellow. We asked a local store merchant of a small grocery store for an empty butter box. The carton was strong and my father cut some openings in the side to make a garage for our trains. Unfortunately, one of my bothers broke my metal car with the lights and batteries so these trains now became our toys. We played with our toys for hours under the kitchen table in the small room where there was heat in the winter months. Our home was very old and the floor in the front room had to be replaced every two years. Mold and rot made the boards unsafe so my father had extra work to do. Within the next few years, two new brothers were added to the family, Adrie and Peter-Servaas. My brother Adrie had big beautiful blue eyes and light blonde hair. He was very handsome, friendly, and outgoing. He slept in the corner bed with our brother Johan. I slept with my brother Jan. We were very close. Johan would spend most of his time by with my father's parents and I would spend most of my time by with Grandpa Roeland; my mother's dad.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A BOY FROM FLAKKEE by ROLAND KRYGSMAN Copyright © 2010 by Roland Krygsman. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Table of Contents
Contents
Acknowledgment....................viiIntroduction....................ix
Birth and the Beginning....................1
Childhood....................5
Sad Days....................25
War....................29
My Teen Years....................49
Life On The Mainland....................59
The Flood (De Ramp)....................69
Life In America....................83
The Second Voyage....................89
Our Island....................131
The Financial Part....................135
Back In The U.S.A....................139
Entertainment....................143