Hendrik Adriaan Aalders born 8 April 1869 in Amsterdam Hendrik was the son of Adriaan and Johanna ter Laare .Hendrik was a hardworking and excellent tradesman . He learned his confectioner's trade well. In 1896 there was an international competition for confectioners /pastry cooks ( banketbakkers ) organised in London to which entries were invited from all over Europe , Hendrik entered and won the silver medal aged just 26 . His grandson , Henry (born 1939) still holds it .Shortly thereafter Henry opened his "banketbakkerij" in the Kalverstraat corner Klooster in inner city Amsterdam .Then came the first royal order. The newly installed Dutch Queen Wilhelmina liked Opa’s pastry delicacies and the treasured “by Royal appointment “ sign soon took place of pride in Opa’s establishment .
On 20 March 1908 Hendrik married Bernardina Maria Johanna Caminada born 31 Jan 1874 in Amsterdam She died 20 Mar 1908 ,just 34 years old, leaving Hendrik with 2 small boys to raise. On 3 Feb 1910 Hendrik married his late wife’s cousin Maria Johanna Caminada born in Rotterdam 16 May 1864 . She died at the couple’;s retirement home in Soestdijk prior to WWII . Opa retired before the outbreak of WWII and bought a retirement property at the Koninginneweg Soestdijk with a house titled “Holiday” It had a large back garden which bordered onto the Royal estate Soestdijk Palace, at the time occupied by Crownprincesss Juliana and Prince Bernard . Opa’s second wife, Maria Caminada, died there . Opa died 13 May 1945 in Amsterdam in a home for retired gentlemen "Brentano" at the Heerengracht ,where he had “bought himself in” to be with his brother in law, "Henry Caminada" ,his late wife’s childless brother. Uncle Henry was a most caring and sweet deaf man. The Gerrman occupiers had surrendered and World war II had come to an end 8 days earlier . It was chaos in Amsterdam and the rest of Holland . Opa’s two sons got themselves to Amsterdam in an army jeep. They buried Opa in a carton box on 17 May 1945. There wasn’t anything else at an affordable price. Nothing could outdo the overwhelming relief of knowing that Holland was free from German occupation. I hope that my Opa, an old man, realised the significance of the event of 5 May 1945 ( Liberation day ) before he closed his eyes forever.
Hendrik's grandson Henry Aalders (1939) and wife Nemia on Rotary establishment business in Russia and the Baltic states in 1995 , were fortunate to be in Holland at the time ,when the country had a gigantic party, lasting a whole week . It celebrated 50 years of liberation . It was an extremely moving affair . Every Canadian soldier, still alive at the time ,however affluent or poor, was invited to be in the Netherlands .to celebrate with a very grateful nation . Even "down and outers " and the unemployed and homeless , if they liberated Holland in 1945 and put their lives at risk doing that ,deserved to be there and they were . A number of Dutch towns sent this message " Find our heros , clean them up , put them on a plane and send us the bill."
It was a beautuiful and moving occasion. hopefully reflecting the mood of 5 May 1945. We do so hope that our Opa , Hendrik Adriaan Aalders, just enjoyed a taste of it before departing from this world .
Hendrik Aalderrs and Bernardina Caminada had two sons .
Adriaan Hendrik Aalders born 1 April 1900 in Amsterdam Son of Hendrik Adriaan Aalders and Bernardina Caminada. He died 8 Jan 1912 in Amsterdam from tuberculosis .
See picture of him with his then toddler brother Anton and mother Bernardina .
Antonius Bernardus Jacobus Maria Aalders ( 1903-1983) see below .....
With second wife Maria Caminada ,Hendrik and Maria produced just one son ........
Gerard Adriaan Johan Aalders (1910-1985 ) see below .....