Page 65 - Poat_to_Poot_Engels

WILLEM FREDERIK POOT’S CHILDHOOD IN THE NETHERLANDS

In 1878 Jan Willem Poot was located in Berlikum, Friesland, where Willem
Frederik was born. Jan's ministry in Berlikum was at a historic landmark,
Den Hervorming Kerk (The Reformed Church) which was built about 1779.
The church is the focal point of Berlikum, and its spire can be seen from
almost everywhere in town. The church has always been beautifully
maintained, and is a popular landmark to this day. (Unfortunately, in 2002
the distinctive tower had to be taken down to repair worm damage to the
wood.) The church has an impressive parsonage and an attractive Christian
school. Berlikum is also called Berlicum and Berltsum. It had about 1,800
residents in the year 1900 and 2,530 in the year 2000. It is 3 feet above
sea level. A large and prominent windmill in town was used to operate a
lumber mill. Berlikum is very old; a monastery was started west of town in
1256.

Although Jan's ministry located the family in Friesland, where most of the
children were born, the children were always told that they were not "lowly"
Frisian peasants, but were upper class Dutch. Many of the commoners of
that province spoke in the old Frisian language, rather than Dutch. In the
1970's-90's, the European revival of ethnicity lead to the reinstatement of
Friesian as the official language of this province. Even though Dutch had
been the official language for nearly 500 years! Towns in Friesland have
both a Dutch name and a Frisian name, and frequently additional names. It
can be very confusing!

People who worked in the low muddy fields traditionally wore wooden shoes
(klompen), because the dampness would quickly ruin leather and make their
feet damp. In other circumstances, they would put on leather shoes and
the wooden shoes would be lined up outside the door to their home. There
were no wooden shoes outside the Poot's doorway. They felt insulted when
anyone asked if they had ever worn a wooden shoe!

Although the Frisian farmers were considered peasants, they generally did
better financially than farmers elsewhere. Most owned their own farms, and
the soil was very rich and productive. Frisian cows were prized for their
quality and productivity. Even small Frisian communities were able to afford
soundly built churches of stone, and could provide their pastors or
"dominie" with a modest yet secure living. In general, religious beliefs in
Friesland adhered more strictly to the Bible than in the urban areas to the
south. This was a good match for Jan Poot.

Jan and Fredrika's third child, Abraham, was also born in Berlikum, on June
19, 1879. He was named after Fredrika's father, Abraham Vink.

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