There are many stories about the origins of Sint Willebrord and its inhabitants, but one thing is certain: the Willebrord people are proud of what they have achieved. Because in the 17th century the first inhabitants of ‘het Heike’ lived on poor soil and earned a living by picking blueberries, tying brooms and washing sand. “There was nothing here at all, but this is how they managed to escape poverty through trade,” says expert and resident William van Peer.
The often negative image of Sint Willebrord in the media is at odds with the self-image that the residents of the church village have. “They are proud of their origins, their family, their children. Proud of what they have achieved,” says William. “Because God created heaven and earth, but the Willebrorder people did it themselves,” he laughs.
“Here you had no interference from above and you could live your life the way you wanted.”
Tradition has it that the Willebroders have Spanish origins. After the capture of Breda – in 1625 – soldiers of General Spinola are said to have hidden in the liberated area below Etten-Leur. Van Peer: “It has never been scientifically proven, but it was inhospitable heathland here at the time and I can well imagine that deserters sought refuge here. Because here you had no interference from above and you could live your life as you wanted. “
The surname Valentijn, which is common in Sint Willebrord, also refers to Spain, because it is said to come from the southern name Valentino. “Of course there is the former cyclist Marinus Valentijn. He clearly had that southern appearance with dark hair, dark skin and dark eyes. And Willebrorders are also very temperamental.”
But regardless of origin, it is clear that the first residents of Heike – which was only renamed Sint Willebrord in 1841 – had to work hard to build a life. “Because most of them had no education, they moved across the country to do hard work. The husband and wife rode from here on one bicycle to the Haarlemmermeer to help with the reclamation. They made a living all week and only on weekends. on the bike home.”
“We do our own thing and no one else should interfere with that. That’s it.”
Even the historical popularity of cycling in Sint Willebrord can be traced back to escape from poverty. “Cycling offered an opportunity to build a very good life without education, on character and pedaling very hard. Like my grandfather, Wim van Est, who ended up here from Fijnaart in Willebrord during the war. As a smuggler. And he wanted to do that. were already the best back then. With butter and bales of rolling tobacco on his back, he went back and forth to Belgium, because there was business in that.”
Van Peer: “Willebrorders have an aversion to authority. If you have been abandoned for centuries and cannot turn to anyone for help, then the principle arises that we will arrange things ourselves. Then you are not devastated by government intervention. That is really a characteristic of here. We do our own thing and no one else should interfere with that. That’s it.”
Would you like to share your story about Sint Willebrord with us? Which can. Reporters Erik Peeters and Raoul Cartens and editor Robert te Veele will be in Sint Willebrord from Monday September 11 to Friday September 15. You are welcome in De Lanteern Community House. You can also email us at [email protected] or app us on 040-2949492