Netherlands, 1859-1915

Hennie's story begins in the Netherlands with her grandparents.

[Map of the Netherlands with provinces and major cities indicated. Cities of interest include: Utrecht, Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Hilversum, Arnem, Eindhoven, Oss, Zandvoort, Rotterdam, and the Hague]

Hennie's Maternal Grandparents:

Hennie's maternal grandmother, Aartje Bruins, lived in Utrecht, Holland and in 1894 had an affair with an unknown married man. Aartje became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter (Hennie's mother) Geertruida “Truis” Johanna Bruins on June 11, 1895 in Utrecht. The father did not recognize the daughter and is listed as “N.N.” (unknown) on the birth certificate. The father had at least one other legitimate daughter, known later to Hennie as “Tante To” (see below).

Circa 1898, Aartje commissioned photographic portraits of herself and her daughter at the Johan G.H. Beelenkamp photography studio on St. Jorisweg 20, Dordrecht, a town 60 km southwest of Utrecht. In the photo, Geertruida is approximately 3 years old. This is the only known photograph of Aartje. In the photographs, Geertruida is wearing two different dresses and appears to be slightly different ages. It is possible that the photographs were taken several months apart.

[Photograph of Hennie's mother, Geertruida Paulina Bruins, c. 1898 at about age 3. Photograph of Hennie's mother and grandmother, Aartje Bruins, c. 1898.]

Hennie's Paternal Grandparents:

Hennie's paternal grandfather, Jan Louis Cornelis I van Senden, was born in Utrecht on July 30, 1859 to parents Hermann Christoffel van Senden and Agatha van der Loo. He was the 3rd of six children. Herman Christoffel van Senden, Hennie's great grandfather, was a confectioner by profession.

[Photograph of Hennie's great grandparents, Hermann Christoffel van Senden and Agatha van der Loo. The undated photograph was taken sometime before 1898 in Amsterdam.]

Hendrina Johanna Staal, Hennie's paternal grandmother, was born in Amsterdam on May 28, 1862 to parents Frederick Willem Staal and Maria Regina Blesman. She married Jan Louis Cornelis I van Senden on September 23, 1886 in Amsterdam.

[Photographs of Jan Louis Cornelis I van Senden (age 66) and Hendrina Johanna Staal (age 63) taken in Amsterdam in 1925]

Jan Louis Cornelis I and Hendrina Johanna lived together in Amsterdam and had three children. The oldest, Hermine Agatha, was born on July 24, 1890. Jan Louis Cornelis II (Hennie's father) was born on November 7, 1892, and Hendrinus Johan ("Uncle Jo") was born on November 17, 1895. A portrait photograph was taken of the three siblings c. 1910.

[Portrait photograph of the van Senden siblings, c. 1910. Left to right, Herminus Johann (age 15), Jan Louis Cornelis II (age 18), Hermine Agatha (age 20)]

On May 14, 1914, just two months before the outbreak of WWI, Hermine Agatha married Theodorus Antonius Appels in Amsterdam. NEXT CHAPTER