Life in The Netherlands

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The villages of Zaamslag, Terneuzen, and Axel, in the southern most part of the province of Zeeland in The Netherlands, are all mentioned frequently as the place of birth, residence, or death for generations of Van Doorns, going back to the 17th century. However, Adriaan Van Doorn was born and raised in the village of Oud-Vossemeer in the province of Zeeland.  Therefore, I have chosen to focus on Oud-Vossemeer and treat it as the origination point of our story. Oud-Vossemeer is located in the northeast portion of the Tholen region of Zeeland in The Netherlands.  See the maps below for the locations of Zaamslag, Terneuzen, Axel, and Oud-Vossemeer. 

Oud-Vossemeer is believed to have been founded early in the 15th century, after the polder, in which it lies, was diked in about 1415. Most inhabitants made their living through agriculture.

Marinus Van Doorn, Adriaan’s father, came to live in Oud-Vossemeer in 1816 as the result of his marriage to widow Adriana Ooms. Adriana’s first husband, Benjamin Ooms had died leaving her with two children. Marinus, himself a widower, but without children, moved to Oud-Vossemeer from Zaamslag. Marinus and Adriana started a family of their own. Three of their children Jannetje, John, and Adriaan lived to adulthood.  The Van Doorns lived in a brick multi-family dwelling on the outskirts of the village, near the intersection of Achterstraat and Hofstraat.  

Adriaan raised his own family on Achterstraat in the same house in which he grew up.  Adriaan generally listed his occupation as either a “winkelier” or “arbeider.” A “winkelier” is a shopkeeper and an “arbeider” is a laborer. It is not known what type of shop he owned or what type of labor he performed.  Adriaan inherited the shop from his parents. Perhaps he didn’t like the work or the business alone couldn’t support his family. In the end, it appears he relied upon manual labor as his primary means of income.  By all accounts, the family was poor and struggled to survive. Dutch census records consistently show that the Van Doorns shared their house with three to five other people, typically laborers. 

In the Netherlands emigration records, officials classified each departing family as well-to-do, middling, or needy. “Needy”, meant the family required some sort of public assistance.  Adriaan and his family were classified as "needy."