Ons Dorp: Haarlem doctor drew entire diaries for his children

Maartje Melchior comes from a special family. Her father was a well-known gynecologist in Haarlem and had many passions. He sailed along as a ship’s doctor during the first whaling expedition on board the Willem Barentsz in 1946, filmed and became known for his travel reports. As an author and draftsman, he already made entire diaries for his four children in the 1930s.

He also films their family life in Haarlem. “You had music families and drawing families and we were a real drawing family,” says Maartje. She remembers well how during the war she had drawing lessons in secret, far from the view of the occupying forces, at the top of the Grote Kerk.

The visit in 1936 of the engaged couple Juliana and Bernhard to Haarlem, the arrival of the Canadians in 1945 and the special family life were all recorded by her father.

This series shows what life in our province used to be like. Everyday life and special events have been recorded by amateur videographers. The historical images have been collected in recent years by the Alkmaar Regional Archives and mostly come from private property. Some images are unique and have never been seen before.

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