Stories from 'The map of memories'

Michel Linthorst collected inspiring, moving and special stories about Gouda and its inhabitants.
On the map of memories of Gouda' he drew the people, buildings and symbols that refer to those stories.
On this page you can read some stories.

Do you know what the almost all inhabitants of Gouda made their money around 1700?​

Around 1617 a number of English rental soldiers arrived in Gouda. They discovered some good potteries and decided to resume their old profession: 
making stone pipes.

The number of people from Gouwenaars who learned the trade from the English artisans grew steadily. In 1749 there were even 349 Gouda pipe factories. The Gouda pipe became more and more popular! Almost 3/4 of the population earned their money with it.
There was also a lot of work for cooperators, basket makers, clay and peat and cargo skippers and for traders in pipes.

​Some pipe factories developed into plateel bakeries such as Goedewaagen and Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland. Until well after the Second World War it went very well and Gouds plateel became a household word. Unfortunately it went further downhill afterwards

The clay shed on the Vest, in which the clay from England was preserved, is reminiscent of that time, just like the oldest tobacco shop in the Netherlands on the market in Gouda: van Vreumingen. And of course the Gouda Museum owns an extensive collection of Gouda pottery.

Which famous lady from Gouda is buried in the hidden cemetery?

Carolyt Koops makes a fervent plea to put a forgotten Gouda lady on the map of memories.

She makes a fervent plea for Anna Barbara van Meerten-Schilperoort (1778-1853). "She has meant so much to women and girls in Gouda. She devoted herself to the poor, was an educational reformer like Erasmus and visited prisoners and women in Gouda. 

She had a revolutionary way of teaching and opened a girls' boarding school about which the education inspectorate at the time was praising. She traveled all over the country to tell her students about her adventures, but in 1813 she also wrote a book in which she supposedly allowed people to travel around the country and tell them what they saw along the way.

She also put Gouda on the map and the beautiful town hall

it's like I ended up in the fairy tales of a thousand and one nights. That's how beautiful it is, "she wrote.

"And she published the first women's magazine in the Netherlands. In “Penelopé, for example, there were her drawings of fashion, without naked necks of course. The emancipation did not yet exist, but it played a very important role in the women's movement and was even nicknamed "The Crown of Gouda" and a memorial in St.Janskerk.

But to great shame that is not visible

Because there is a pulpit in front of it! So that must really change! ' Her grave was untraceable for a long time, but was rediscovered in 2014 at the Old Cemetery on Vorstmanstraat. A new burial monument was unveiled at its last resting place in 2015.​

How two statuettes of Mary marvelously survived the bombing of Gouda​

Last Saturday there was an article about Hugo Slootjes in the local newspaper who tells about a bombing in the second world war, says Corrie Linthorst. 'Very special to read because I also experienced it up close. But what struck me most was that he told how the bombing destroyed his entire house

Everything was broken.

Only his statue of Maria was still whole.
"I still have that, "said Hugo. 

Corrie says: "I was with my grandfather and grandmother," near the St. Joseph hospital which was the target of the bombing.
Because of the story of Hugo everything suddenly came back in my mind. I remembered how I sat on my grandfather's lap, hidden under the stairs.

He sang songs for me

My grandfather tried to distract me from the furious sound of the bombers. My grandmother had folded her hands around the crucifix. The damage in the living room was huge. All windows were out, it was a mess! But what does the miracle want ?!

​Our fragile Maria statue too!
Completely whole!

I still have the statue in my possession, just like Hugo. It is in a nice spot in the living room, next to a few candles that I burn every day. '

The Jacoba van Beieren was a tough woman​

'What I always find an exciting story is about Gouda Castle and about Jacoba van Beieren who lived there for a while. According to the history, she fled via an underground corridor system for her enemies, "writes Peggy Dijkstra-van Loon.
 
A castle always appeals to my imagination

"Which skirts have rustled in the castle in Gouda?" What stories have been told in the kitchen? Who have all lived there? What intrigues were there? Rumors about secret corridors and arms clatter!

I think Jacoba is cool

Because she was already emancipated in her time. After reading “Jacoba, daughter of Holland” (2009) by Simone van de Vlugt, I have closed her in my heart. I had the impression that she was way ahead of her time. She fought like a guy and got married for the form. Because it couldn't have been different at that time.

Fighting tiep!

Jacoba van Beieren inhabited the castle from 1401 - 1436 and took various campaigns from here. She managed to conquer Schoonhoven, among other things. As a thank you for the support she received from the Gouda shooters, she donated a golden chalice that can still be admired in Museum Gouda. She died of tuberculosis on 9 October 1436 at the age of 35 and was buried in the Binnenhof in The Hague.

The castle was destroyed by fire in 1438

Soon it was rebuilt. Erasmus grew up in Gouda during this time, so he must have seen the castle every day. The castle was made uninhabitable in 1577 and then demolished. Gouda wanted to be rid of the castle, and in particular the owner. The owner (the States of Holland) was not involved in this decision-making by the city council. The official reason for the demolition was that the Spaniards could not capture the castle.

​Information about the Castle and the underground corridors (Wikipedia)
For many years there has been the story among the population that various underground corridors ran from the former castle, even under the Hollandsche IJssel to the other side of the river. Research has been done on this several times, such as in 1824 and in 1879. In 1879 an official municipal investigation was started into the rumors about the existence of underground passages that would run under the IJssel from Gouda Castle to the other side. Various vaults were found, including a vault towards the IJssel, but no corridor below the IJssel.

In 1937, a Mrs. N. Klein Sprokkelhorst from Zeist, with certainty, indicated with her divining rod that two corridors would run under the IJssel. A corridor of 3 meters wide in the direction of Schoonhoven and a corridor of 8 meters wide to a farm on the other side of the embankment of Gouderak (the former court house). Among other things, she did this from a rowing boat in the presence of a few members of the Museum's Supervisory Committee. Although it had to be technically unattainable in the local slack soil and in the early Middle Ages, it was given the benefit of the doubt and a follow-up investigation was subsequently initiated. It is now clear that there is no question of the presence of such corridors. The remains of the vaults were found under the former castle.

About Youp, the theater cats and the mysterious orphan girl 

On Friday, March 1, one of the four prints of 'The map of memories of Gouda' was unveiled in the main theatre in Gouda. A great opportunity to get a few stories from director Nel Oskam and head of communication Anya Tuit. 

Anya Tuit says: "About 11 years ago there was a fairly serious performance. I thought it was a very exciting evening because I had only just started and the show had to go smoothly. Until halfway there was no dirt in the air, the performance was almost at its peak when suddenly during a bloody serious scene cheerful piano music was heard.

This was clearly not part of the performance!

Where did that music come from? I walked out of the room in the direction of the changing rooms as quickly and unobtrusively as possible. The music grew louder as I got closer to the orchestra pit.

But the orchestra pit was not used at all that night!

When I opened the door I saw a young lady playing the wing exuberantly. It was the pianist who was programmed in the small hall. She had found the piano during the break of her performance. And now she was playing with her fingers, not knowing that everyone in the main room could clearly hear her piano playing! I don't think anyone really noticed that the music didn't belong to the show. "

"By the way, do you know that we also have a theater cat?"

"His name is Tigger and has half a tail. He often sits in front of the entrance and welcomes everyone almost daily, especially to be petted over his head and because he sometimes gets a treat.

Nel: We already had a domestic cat in the old theater. Very handy because he caught all the mice. He was only allowed to come behind the scenes at kunstmin. After a performance I was the first to leave the room and saw the cat sneak through the wardrobe like a tiger. He suddenly took a huge leap and attacked an expensive fur coat. Fortunately there was no damage. To be on the safe side, we looked for another house for him.

"The last performance in the old theater
I will never forget ' says Nel Oskam. He was played by(the famous dutch) comedian Youp van 't Hek who gave' The old lady 'a worthy goodbye. Not only because of his beautiful performance but also because of the beautiful ode that wrote. A short excerpt:

I know how much was laughed here
And know how much has been yelled
I bow and say goodbye very quietly
And whisper: theater thanks

I'm the last one there
and feel the sadness that hangs here
And before you go onto the street
Then say: theater thanks

I really know all the theaters
And that is what I so often desire
to the scent of the old Goudse
In short: thank the theater

Youp van 't Hek

​"I don't know if I can tell, but everyone who works here knows the story of the missing orphan girl. Her spirit would wander through the Goudse Schouwburg. How the story goes exactly I don't know, it changes every time but the orphan girl is said to have lived in an orphanage in Gouda. One day she had disappeared without a trace. It was whispered that she was buried in the former Jewish cemetery, which was 100 meters further down the Boelekade. And that she could not find her peace there.

"That's why she's wandering around here now."

"Nobody knows if it's true. I also think it is a story with a wink, but still ... sometimes I suddenly feel a cold draft behind my eyes or suddenly slam shut a door. Even the elevator sometimes comes on its own for inexplicable reason. Sometimes I think I sometimes hear someone walking, then I look up and then I appear to be alone on stage. Then I think:

Would it still be true? "

I suspect that there are dozens of exciting stories to tell about the new and old Goudse Schouwburg. Do you have such a story or do you know more about the orphan girl? 

Perhaps the most famous person of Gouda of this time  

A stylish lady with bright red lipstick enters the museum café of the Museum. She seems familiar and yet I cannot place her immediately. "I read that the Memory Card was revealed today.
I also want to tell a story, "she says somewhat timidly. 'My father is Willem van Royen, the former iron merchant from the Boelekade that you drew on the map. I heard about it and thought, I should take a look. " 

"How wonderful that you came to the museum to talk about your father," I say.

He is perhaps the most famous Gouwenaar of our time

'My father was born in Voorschoten. After the bombing of Rotterdam, he moved with the whole family to Gouda. As a kid, he always went with the older men, scrape a little. When he was a little older, he started selling stove wood. More and more lorre and later old iron were added. He cycled with his cargo bike to Haastrecht, Oudewater and Stolwijk.

Everyone knew him and kept things for him.

​He later bought a house on the Boelekade, with a large storage facility behind it. My sister and I wanted to play there and climb the lorre. That was of course not allowed, because the people did of course have fleas. But as a child you don't think about it at all.

My mother's entire family helped sort, divorce and sell. If I had to have my father to discuss something, that was possible with the food, because he was a real Burgundian. Sunday we went for a walk, grandfather and grandmother went, on the corner of the Tiendeweg we went to drink tea, with a cookie, that was Sunday. They have never been on vacation. "I can never leave," he said, "suppose someone else picks up the trade." We sometimes went by bike to the Kralingse forest.

You never regret it

that you have never been on vacation, "I sometimes asked him. "No, I had a great life," he would say. He turned 92 and was in business until he was 90. Many people from Gouw have helped him if he did not enter the Tiendeweg bridge and then gave him a boost.

When he fell ill I took him home and cared for him. He knew something about everything, about politics, with Dad I could talk about anything. "

I still miss him very much.

How the 'Speelwinkel'makes the world a little bigger​

'The Speelwinkel' (a meeting place for the people of Gouda) has been around for so long because of all those wonderful people who all work hard in their own way to organize many activities. But also because we are always there for each other at moments of joy and suffering.
It is always a good time when the ladies of the cycling lesson get their first diploma after a lot of work. The world is getting a little bigger for them and we are all proud of that. It is very nice to see that people of all ages and cultures find each other and discover that there is more togetherness than thought. With us everyone is equal, everyone has the same rules and there are no ranks.
That is why I enter the Speelwinkel every day with great pleasure.

“The Raambuurt is most dear to me. It is just like a village in a city. You have social control here without the burden and you can ring the bell everywhere. We pay attention to each other, I think that's important. Syrian people have now come to live in the street and it is wonderful to see how the neighborhood cares about them. People can also always bring toys or clothing, or become a volunteer themselves. You live here together, you live here together.

You need each other. "
Sarie Donk​

What important role did this hidden house play in the war?​

In the courtyard there is the 'Metaheer-house, a morgue where killed Jews were ritually washed. The body of the deceased was covered with a sheet and topped with warm water.

A select group spoke the funeral speech and psalms.

Who still remembers the lifeguards at swimingpool 'the Spaardersbad'?

The Spaardersbad was not just a swimming pool. And the lifeguards not just lifeguards. They were part of your upbringing.
Some were very strict​

How a hobby got completely out of hand​

More than twenty years ago we bought a house in Gouda. We really wanted a beautiful piece of art for our new home. When we could not find what we wanted, we started making it ourselves. That was the start of a new hobby, which then got completely out of hand. Making colorful, metaphorical animal figures has become our daily work and passion. We hope that with our sculptures we can make the world a little more beautiful.
Marjan Tabak and Jos Naus​

The Gonz was an alternative dancing. Here came metalheads, rastas, hippies, punks, goths and everyone else who thought they didn't fit in a booth, drink a beer, smoke a joint, and enjoy music and each other's company. But for many people in the alternative circuit this was more than just a cafe or a stage, it was a meeting place, a community and a second living room. The building has been renovated many times over the years by volunteers and regular visitors. After de Gonz moved and made a new start the municipality restored the Schoolteachers residence. Less than 50 centimeters below the dance floor, it turned out that the remains of Raet, the Jerusalemgoer who had the chapel built. I am curious what it has to say to stories, because he did not get much rest from us. Also at the top of the Jerusalem Chapel in the 90s was the artist box of Burgvliet. There was a door halfway up the stairwell that connected the Schoolmaster's house and the chapel; so we sometimes entered each other's parties. Was also a funny experience. I think the black Gonz rose on a red background is a recognizable reference!
Jeffrey van Geenen

Jaco van Kempen and maybe the fact that StudioGonz is 100 years old next year and is still alive and kicking​

A pottery painter is a typical Gouda occupation. Once more than half of the population of Gouda was involved or employed in the pottery industry. It was made in bulk. But there were also companies that managed to raise the level of art to the level of art in Museum Gouda. In the mid-1970s I was trained at one of those beautiful companies: Plateelbakkerij Zenith. One of my goals is to preserve and pass on this beautiful Gouda craft. On my nomination 'Plateel painting in Gouda' has been placed on the National Intangible Heritage inventory in the Netherlands.
Trudy Otters Pear

Michel: Hi Trudy, I thought it would be nice to symbolize the Gouda pottery through a vase. I used your photo and indicated my own twist. I hope you enjoy this and appreciate it.

Trudy: Ha, how funny! My design was only in pencil.
Is it possible to add a light shade of blue in some areas? I'm very satisfied! Yes! And can there still be a touch in the flower-like figures?

Michel: Also light blue?

Trudy: Slightly darker than the previous shade?

The pee pot from Fie

We used to do 'Luilak', a yearly local festivity. You got up very early and the intention was that you would make a lot of noise on the street so that everyone woke up. Boys cycled through the street with pots and pans and we were with a group of girls from school. Fie lived in a street near our school. I still see us standing, we made a lot of noise. The window opened and Fie threw the full pisspot out of the window.

Have 'De Drie Notenboomen' come for your laundry​

At our house, my working mother took the dirty laundry out. She entrusted it to the above-mentioned laundry. That the white good became a bit yellowish over time was clearly reflected in the annual performance of the gym club. Everyone in a spotless white blouse, mine came from Gouda. If you walked past the three walnut trees on the Kattensingel, you would smell the steamy and sick laundry air. Above the gate was a beautiful plaque depicting a bird with the industry associated with the laundry in the background.
Lucy Winterwerp​

My grandfather worked at 3 Notenbomen. Mr. Jaspers was alone and lived with my grandfather and grandmother in the Lange van Wijngaardenstraat during the war. When the SS wanted to take all the men to work in Germany during a raid, he was, together with the children's scissors in the house, the reason not to take my grandfather. Amazing how family stories like that come to mind when you see your map 😍 !!
Antoinette Kok-Faay​

The inflatable rowing boat on the Karnemelksloot

In the summer I always went with my plastic rowboat over the Fluwelensingel and Karnemelksloot towards the Breevaart. Always look out for the tour boat.
Rosita Peek​

The last cooper from Gouda​

The Groeneway no. 79 is the only city farm in Gouda, popularly referred to as the "cooper's house". I have spent a great deal of my childhood there with great pleasure. The last coopers from Gouda were my grandfather and my father. My grandfather was a small fat man. I still see him standing with that eternal pipe in his mouth and the cap naughty on his head. You could see from his mischievous head that he was always up for a joke. He was always in for a chat with the farmers at the market, where they were standing on Thursday morning with handmade tubs and pig troughs, but of course also washtubs, cheese tubs and wine barrels. The market was always held around the beautiful town hall, later on the cattle market behind the Agnite chapel. It was a pleasure to listen after school and see how the goods were sold and sold under the clap of hands. The trips by truck to the slaughterhouses and farmers were the end. It was hard work for little money. Everyone had to make ends meet at that time. From the moment that the tubs were also made mechanically, my grandfather's coop was getting worse. The tubs became so cheap that the expensive manual labor soon lost its customers.
Gerrie van Leeuwen (named after my grandfather)

The ingenious plan of the children's mayor​

"On the street I see children from different groups standing apart from each other. Moroccan children and Dutch children," says Mellah enthusiastic. ,, My idea is to let the youth of different cultures change their lives for one day. To show: there may be cultural differences, such as food and language, but you are all human too. "
Yassine Mellahm former mayor of Gouda
Source: AD 12 Nov. 2017​

Too bad that Italia is no longer there

All my memory, I have had a special relationship with ice cream parlor Italia on the market in Gouda. Why the family suddenly left was uncertain. Due to family matters, it could not be sold and remained silent for years. When I visited the ice cream parlor in 2012, all my memories came back. The old furniture was still there and even a shopping note was there. The scent of Vanilla crept back into my mind. At that moment I realized how unfortunate it is that it no longer exists. Many people from Gouwen share the history of this special ice cream parlor with me. It had my heart: the 1950s interior, the charming Danilo Agnoli behind the counter, the Italian music and the special flavors. Danilo often had spontaneous actions. If someone got married at the town hall and then came to the salon in her wedding dress, she got free ice cream. The neat servants were in white aprons and helped the customers at the counter outside, inside and in the store. The atmosphere breathed Italy. With the primary school we had an ice cream in the shop in the afternoon after a visit to the theater. What fascinated me most then was the red neon light. I recently even ordered a replica of the logo from a neon blazer. He also restores the original logo that had been there since 1967.
Mark Krebs

Volg de facebook groep over ijssalon Italia

A gift for Celeste,
Founder of the I-give-away group​

In times of crisis, it is important that people have positive experiences that increase mutual trust: sharing and receiving can be an important bright spot in life. Celeste Veurman founded the very first give-away group of Gouda in 2013 at the age of 18. The facebook group grew in 10 years with 10,718 members. It is the place where you unconditionally give away your things and give it another Gouwenaar. A wonderful idea where people come into contact with each other in a very positive way.
Celeste was nominated for a youth ribbon in 2013, but could not receive it because she did not live in Gouda at the time. Fortunately, she returned after her studies and Gouda is a lady with a heart of gold richer and she still gets a place on Gouda's memory card.
Manon Bossard

The stork symbolizes the Uiverplein, the birthplace of Celeste Veurman.​

How a degraded industrial estate an
became a golden meeting place

We wanted to develop a dilapidated industrial estate on the Hollandsche IJssel in a sustainable way into a lively city bank and to offer space for artisanal and recreational activities, to create employment for people at a distance from the labor market. It became a meeting place that enlivened the city and surrounding area. GOUDasfalt has already involved 200 volunteers in two years. "Together we make the city" is our motto.
Eva Kosto​

Cold Gold - poem 
She is temptingly tempting at the water's edge
The city sees her long arms swing
and has dirty green boots on

She is not perfect. She is wild and elated.
She has been able to reverse her chances.
We want to be together and stand with her.

Because the city is reflected in its eyes,
and the polder hangs on her clothes.
The river flatters against its bosom.

The asphalt under her feet is golden-edged.
She hopes the storm will blow
and she can finally get started.

Then sail the city people or cross that bridge to the other side
and embrace one another fervently and intimately, city and country
Chris Bellekom

Dancing at studio Elly Pijpers

I was 6 years old when I went on ballet with Elly Pijpers in September. In the narrow alley from the window that led to the ballet studio, it smelled of horses. Downstairs, Elly's mother sat in a small office. She was sweet but also quite strict. Our first performance was in 1976 in the theater. I was a little gnome. There was an entire orchestra in the orchestra pit. I found that very special. When the lady behind the piano stopped, a father of one of the girls played the piano for a while. But Elly mostly used cassette tapes. On the wall hung her diploma and a painting by Degas. Ballet was not my choice. Because I was not very flexible, I decided one day that I wanted to quit. I didn't go exactly 1 week, then I wanted to take ballet lessons again. In June 1986 alderman Harms opened the new ballet studio on the Lethmaetstraat in Gouda. I stopped dancing, but to this day I miss it. I have been in contact with Elly Pijpers all these years. Last summer she celebrated her 80th birthday. I gave her a photo of her and her partner Conrad van de Weteringen, a well-known choreographer, portrayed by my husband. He died just before Christmas. Elly is still very active with tennis and bridge.​

Tribute to Gouda and the poet Vroman and his wife

The Vroman couple, was a very special couple, Michel. If image or sound was broadcast from them, I thought such broadcasts were a party. Inspiring and fascinating people. Getting old with Gwen seems like something to you. Then you end up in a skyscraper in USA.
Lucy Winterwerp

A skyscraper is closer to heaven
Michel Linthorst

There is another documentary about the time they lived in the retirement home in NY. Was a feeling of honor beautiful and moving. Can still be found on the internet. Really very loving. I think the old people's home was the skyscraper. They were already in their nineties.
I can.
Marie Lexmond

Yes, that broadcast was so beautiful! and also quite close to heaven but still very powerful and loving.
Lucy Winterwerp​

ODE TO GOUDA
Still has Gouda clay soil in between
crane, church and Krugerlaan,
then let us kiss that clay soil
from which Gouda originated!
Let the streets sink peacefully
in that maternal womb;
sound blissfully from her mud
clocks, the stained glass shines.
Let us share in its wealth:
cheese and candles and pretzel,
stroopwafels and pipe steals,
flat flat Gouda and flat plateel.
Whoever was allowed to grow up in Gouda
feels old age
the Gouwe flow through the veins
and it will remain Gouda forever!
LEO VROMAN
FORT WORTH, JUNE 2011

The love of Kamphuisen

At snack bar Kamphuisen on the corner of Peperstraat and Gouwe I took my current wife for the first time and we meet monthly with the friends club.
Willem van der Burg
Dear Willem, I have drawn 2 small hearts for this romantic story at the place where Kamphuisen is located. Can you find them?

The book by Peer pies that is read weekly on Keizerstraat in Gouda ... by a very sweet girl, who received the book from one Mies, signed and well 😉
Esther Snippe

Love for dance and ... for that nice boy! 

I ended up at the Step by Step dance school because my best friend was dancing there. I got a crush on a boy who taught me steps and then I started taking lessons. Really recreational for a long time. But five years later I started training more. Ballroom dancing is the perfect team sport (with your partner) but also a sport in which you can shine. Last year we became Dutch champion Latin A-Class.
Lotte Kloke​

The most famous glasses in the world
 

Margriet de Greef: And the Saint John? Not on the market, but seen from the market as a present building.

Michel: Thank you. Yes, good idea. But a tricky one, because I don't have an overview of the entire building and therefore difficult to draw. I think I'm going to symbolize St. John by drawing a stained glass window where St.Jan is standing.

Margriet de Greef: Such a stained glass window is perhaps a separate project. Success with it! Do you share the end result again? M curious!​

The most beautiful candle evening in the world​

And perhaps another idea: the "candle row" which could symbolize candle evening
Hans Bartelds

I was reminded of a cold winter evening with candles. Together with a friend I was selling pea soup behind the church.
Rosita Peek​

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