a man and woman are feeding each other
a man and woman are feeding each other

Careers

My mother Nel van Oppen had a career as a ballet dancer, trained by Lilly Green, in Europe, and later set up her own ballet school in the Dutch East Indies. At that time, there was a trend to keep the entire foot on the ground, she did not dance on the famous points.

Nel van Oppen
Nel van Oppen
a group of people standing around a table with flowers
a group of people standing around a table with flowers

However, when she allowed her students to perform with a bare shoulder, this was not accepted by the parents. The school was closed.

Not one to be discouraged, Nel van Oppen went to the Netherlands and obtained a diploma in primary education. She then returned to the Dutch East Indies, where there was a great need for home schooling. She began teaching the four children of the Kerbosch family.

Pierre Schrijnen, our father, was in the service of the Kerbosch family at that time.

The marriage of the Kerbosch couple was not a happy one. But divorce was not an option if you were Catholic. Pierre and Marie started a relationship.

During a dinner, a son of the Kerbosch family revealed this relationship, causing some commotion in the small colonial community. Such things were supposed to remain hidden!

Later, Mrs. Kerbosch moved to the Netherlands. Her children also went to the Netherlands for their studies. She lived in Gouda, where she passed away from cancer.

Under the name "The Holy Family," a grandson of Matthieu Kerbosch made a video about his grandfather. This video appeared on TV.

Nel van Oppen, then 28 years old, and Pierre Schrijnen, 27 years old, left the plantation. Nel must have forgiven Pierre's relationship, because they got married on April 5, 1927. Nel converted to Catholicism for this.

Pierre started his own business.

In our memory and from the letters that have been preserved from the time when Pierre was interned in the Japanese camp, their great love for each other was evident.

A dance education requires discipline and character, and to pass this on, a pedagogical ability, which Nel's children have been able to experience.

Despite his amorous young years, Pierre has become a strict and very religious father. Faith has sustained both of them, especially during the difficult war years.

a woman in a white dress standing in front of a tree
a woman in a white dress standing in front of a tree

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