In June, the oldest person in the Netherlands died and 109-year-old Marina van der Es-Siewers took the place of the oldest Dutch person. At least, so it was thought. But she turns out not to be the oldest. The Rotterdam Leny Mackenbach is two months older.
Relatives of the Rotterdamse contacted NH Nieuws after they read the reports about Marina van der Es-Siewers. According to them, it could not be true that Van der Es, who was born in March 1913, is the oldest, since their great-aunt was born in December 1912.
Inquiries with the municipality of Rotterdam learn that their oldest resident is indeed older. It is not clear how this was not known earlier. “We keep track of it in our municipality, the mayor receives information about this every year,” says municipal spokesman Theo Breimer. “I think it is not kept nationally, but per municipality.”
Independent
Helena Barbara Maria Mackenbach was born on December 29, 1912 in Rotterdam and was the oldest of five. “She still lives independently after her sister, with whom she lived all her life, died at the age of 99,” her family said.
She has deteriorated a lot in the past year, they say. “She hasn’t gotten out of bed for about six months and is receiving intensive care at home. She is still clear-headed and knows a lot about the past, but she doesn’t talk much anymore.”
NH Nieuws does not know whether Mackenbach is really the oldest Dutch person, or whether there is an even older resident elsewhere in the Netherlands.