Hugenholtz-Geesink family
The family of my great-grandfather JBTh Hugenholtz (1859-1922), minister in Axel (The Netherlands)
My great grandmother Mathilde Geesink (1865-1942) was born in this beatiful home in Amsterdam (Herengracht 3) (picture 2014). Her parents had bought the property right after their mariage.
The Geesink off spring around 1870; left to right Mathilde Hugenholtz-Geesink (1865-1942), Willem Geesink (1854-1929), Maria (1857-1935) and Coenraad (1863-1917).
My great-grandparents met on top of the Dom Tower in Utrecht in 1885. My great-grandfather wanted to climb the tower on his last day in Utrecht, before he left for Kattendijke as a minister; my great-grandmother was there with her High school from Amsterdam.
Marriage of Johan Geesink and Mathilde Geesink at the summer home of their parents in Hilversum 1887.
My great grandmother Mathilde Geesink (1865-1942): around 1890.
My great grandparents Hugenholtz-Geesink in de backyard of the rectory in Kattendijke in September 1886. On the back ground church and rectory. left to righ mr Verkruijsse, JBTh Hugenholtz, Mathilde Hugenholtz-Geesink, unknown man.
The church of the Dutch Reformed Church of Kattendijke in 2024.
The church of the Reformed Church of Kattendijke and the former rectory (built around 1913, so not the family home) in 2024.
Rectory and church of Zuid-Beijerland: grandfather Gerhard Hugenholtz (1889-1969) was born here. The church burned to the ground in 1932 and was never rebuild.
Current situation of the former rectory in Zuid-Beijerland (Dorpstraat 167).
My great-grandparents Hugenholtz-Geesink
Primary school in Axel, ca 1900.
In the bottom edge is written: Cootje = Co Hugenholtz (1893-1917); Gem = Gemma Hugenholtz (1891-1960). On the top edge is written: Gerard = Gerhard Hugenholtz (1889-1969) and Han = Han Hugenholtz (1888-1973). The teacher on the left is Francois Cornelis Zonnevijlle (1877-1956).
Family visit in church in Axel, August 7 1899; left to right Marie-Katz-Geesink (sister of my great grandmother Hugenholtz-Geesink, her mother Mina Geesink-Reuver (1824-1917); Frida Katz; Co Hugenholtz (1893-1917), Henk Hugenholtz (1895-1956), Karel Fredrik Katz en JBT Hugenholtz (1859-1922) on the pulpit in Axel.
Back yard Axel; August 7, 1899; family of sister (in law) Marie Katz-Geesink.
On the balustrade:
Johan Rudolf Katz (1880-1938); Marie Katz-Geesink; Frida Katz (1885-1963); Mathilde Hugenholtz-Geesink (1865-1941); JBT Hugenholtz (1859-1922); oma Geesink-Reuver (1824-1917); Karel Fredrik Katz (1883-1942).
Above: Han (JBTh 1888-1973), Henk (HSJ (1895-1956); Co (CAJ 1893-1917);
Down: Gemma (1891-1960), Gerard (1889-1969).
Rectory Axel, August 7 1899; family reunion with family Marie Geesink-Katz. standing left-right. lady in local costume of Axel (servant Jans van der Welle?); Mathilde Hugenholtz-Geesink (1865-1941); oma Geesink-Reuver (1824-1917); Gemma (1891-1960); JBT Hugenholtz (1859-1922); Marie Katz-Geesink; Frida Katz (1885-1963); Karel Fredrik Katz (1883-1942); Johan Rudolf Katz (1880-1938). Sitting left-right Han (JBTh 1888-1973), Gerhard (1889-1969); Co (CAJ 1893-1917); Henk (HSJ (1895-1956).
Town hall and rectory Axel, circa 1900. They were demolished in 1939.
Christmas decoration that once hung in the christmas tree in the rectory in Axel, around 1900.
Dutch Reformed church. Axel, summer 2009.
My Great Grandfather JBTh (Johan) Hugenholtz (1859-1922) was born in Kampen and named after his brother who had died one and a half years before his birth, by falling from a hay wagon. He spent his childhood with his Grandfather Hugenholtz, who was a minister in Neuenhaus (Germany), but at age 15 he returned to the Netherlands. He went to a High school in Almelo, but soon moved on to the Gymnasium in Zetten, he then went to an institution in Boxtel where he had an entrance exam for the Utrecht University. Here he studied theology from February 13, 1878. Studying the Hebrew language especially attracted him and his Hebrew teacher encouraged him as he showed great passion and talent for the subject even though his father wanted him to be a minister.
When he had finished his studies in Utrecht, he realized that he had not been up on the Utrecht Dom Tower yet. The very day he had to leave Utrecht, he climbed the 110 metre high tower, at the top of the tower, he met his future wife Mathilde Geesink, who was visiting Utrecht with her highschool class. On June 23, 1887 they were married in the Dutch Reformed Church in Hilversum. Mathilde was a daughter of CAJ (Co) Geesink (1828-1883) and Mina Reuver.
In 1885 he became a pastor in Kattendijke and in 1888 he went to Zuid-Beyerland. In 1891 he went to Axel, he would remain as a minister until his death in 1922.
Children:
He was a prominent figure in the community of Axel, he was very hasty, inpatient and he always closed the doors hard with a bang and could never do anything quietly. Conversations with the residents of Axel in the 1980s revealed a lot of respect for him, but he didn’t like the Catholics. I was told that there once was a Catholic procession in Axel, he took care that enough rotten fruit was available and his children were given the opportunity to throw it at the procession.
He had written many books, especially about vivisection, animal welfare and the Bible. He was a great advocate for the association to protect animals and was the founder of the anti-vivisection association. He had often tried to make a kind of fund to take care of his wife when he would die. Through her rheumatic disease her health had significantly deteriorated in her later years. She could only move about in a wheelchair.
At the end of his life, he had frequent disagreements with the church over the leadership of the board. He was often very tired in the months before he died. During a walk one day, he felt unwell, the doctor advised him to temporarily rest. It seemed that his health improved, until he suddenly died of cardiac arrest several days later. He was buried in Axel and after his wife died in 1942 she was buried with her husband.
When he had finished his studies in Utrecht, he realized that he had not been up on the Utrecht Dom Tower yet. The very day he had to leave Utrecht, he climbed the 110 metre high tower, at the top of the tower, he met his future wife Mathilde Geesink, who was visiting Utrecht with her highschool class. On June 23, 1887 they were married in the Dutch Reformed Church in Hilversum. Mathilde was a daughter of CAJ (Co) Geesink (1828-1883) and Mina Reuver.
In 1885 he became a pastor in Kattendijke and in 1888 he went to Zuid-Beyerland. In 1891 he went to Axel, he would remain as a minister until his death in 1922.
Children:
- Johannes Bernardus Theodorus (Han) (1888-1973) DUTCH
- Gerhard Willem Karel (Gerard) (1889-1969) (my grandfather) DUTCH GERMAN
- Gemma (1891-1960) DUTCH
- Coenraad Albertus Jacobus (Co) (1893-1917) DUTCH
- Henricus Stephanus Johannus (Henk) (1895-1956)
- Willem (Wim) (1902-1969) DUTCH
He was a prominent figure in the community of Axel, he was very hasty, inpatient and he always closed the doors hard with a bang and could never do anything quietly. Conversations with the residents of Axel in the 1980s revealed a lot of respect for him, but he didn’t like the Catholics. I was told that there once was a Catholic procession in Axel, he took care that enough rotten fruit was available and his children were given the opportunity to throw it at the procession.
He had written many books, especially about vivisection, animal welfare and the Bible. He was a great advocate for the association to protect animals and was the founder of the anti-vivisection association. He had often tried to make a kind of fund to take care of his wife when he would die. Through her rheumatic disease her health had significantly deteriorated in her later years. She could only move about in a wheelchair.
At the end of his life, he had frequent disagreements with the church over the leadership of the board. He was often very tired in the months before he died. During a walk one day, he felt unwell, the doctor advised him to temporarily rest. It seemed that his health improved, until he suddenly died of cardiac arrest several days later. He was buried in Axel and after his wife died in 1942 she was buried with her husband.
My great grandfather JBT Hugenholtz (1859-1922).
JBTh Hugenholtz (1859-1922)
My great-grandmother Mathilde Hugenholtz-Geesink (1865-1942).
Their eldest son: Han (JBTh) Hugenholtz (1888-1973), minister and pacifist
Around 1920: Gemma Hugenholtz (1891-1960); my great grandfather JBTh Hugenholtz (1859-1922) and my grandfather Gerhard WK Hugenholtz (1889-1969).
My grandfather Gerard Hugenholtz (1889-1969), minister, picture around 1929
My great-grandfather with daughter Gemma. picture taken around 1901.
Daughter Gemma Hugenholtz (1891-1960) in local dress of Axel. Picture ca 1918
Back yard of the rectory in Axel, painted in 1909 by Heuneman. On the background Gemma Hugenholtz (1891-1960), sister of my grandfather.
Their daughter Gemma Hugenholtz (1891-1960).
Their son CAJ (Co) Hugenholtz (1893-1917).
CAJ Hugenholtz (1893-1917), chemist, who died young because of an accident in Rotterdam.
CAJ (Co) Hugenholtz (1893-1917)
Grave stone CAJ Hugenholtz (1893-1917).
Their son HSJ (Henk) Hugenholtz (1895-1956), director of a sugar factory in Indo-China.
Henk (HSJ Hugenholtz) with his football team in Axel. Around 1908.
HSJ Hugenholtz (Henk) Hugenholtz (1895-1956).
Willem Hugenholtz (1902-1969), lawyer in Leiden and well known animal protector.
family picture; left to right Wim (1902-1969), Mathilde Hugenholtz-Geesink, Gemma Hugenholtz (1891-1960), Han (1888-1973), Gerrit (1889-1969), JBTh (1859-1922). Probably shortly after the death of CAJ Hugenholtz (1893-1917).
Mathilde Geesink and her servant from the late 1880's until the death of my great grandmother in 1942: Jans van der Welle.
My great-grandfather JBTh Hugenholtz (1859-1922) in the rectory in Axel.
Visit of Queen Wilhelmina to Axel, on September 13, 1916. In the background the town hall and rectory
Standing in front of the drainpipe Willem Hugenholtz (1902-1969); standing on rain barrel in front of drainpipe his friend Piet Olijslager. Gemma Hugenholtz (1891-1960) wearing a white blouse.
“Moes en Wim” Leiden, 29 mei 1924. Great grandmother Mathilde Hugenholtz-Geesink (1865-1942) and her son Willem Hugenholtz (1902-1969).
my grandfather Gerard Hugenholtz, his mother Mathilde Hugenholtz-Geesink and her servant Jans van der Welle in the 1930s.
Gravestone of my great-grandparents Hugenholtz-Geesink in Axel.
Family reunion of brothers and sister in Leiden in 1947.
From left to right: my grandmother Rose Hugenholtz-Lehmkuhl (1905-1992), my grandfather Gerhard Hugenholtz (1889-1969); Henk’s girlfriend, Henk Hugenholtz (1895-1956); Willem Hugenholtz (1902-1969) (zittend), Esther Hugenholtz (1887-1970), Han (JBTh) Hugenholtz (1888-1973).