Rural Constable Jan Kelderman

Like every village in the region, nineteenth-century Bennekom had its own officials responsible for maintaining peace and order. One of them was Jan Kelderman, a distinctive and widely remembered figure whose story has been preserved through local tradition and family records.

Jan Kelderman was born in Bennekom on November 18, 1832. On January 1, 1864, he was appointed rural constable in the village of Maurik. On December 24 of that same year, he married Elisabeth Braafhart, a member of a well-known family from Ede. Elisabeth was born on January 17, 1841, in Ede and died there on January 25, 1903, at the age of sixty-two.

In March 1877, Kelderman was appointed constable of the municipality of Ede, stationed in Bennekom. After an absence of more than thirteen years, he thus returned to his birthplace.

He soon gained a reputation as a strictly honest and dedicated lawman, fulfilling all the duties of his profession, though very much in his own way. Boys caught committing mischief, vandalism or lighting fires in the woods, could expect immediate physical correction.

A favorite pastime among local youths was throwing stones at the clock face of the church tower. A successful hit was greeted with cheers, but once Kelderman appeared, the group scattered like startled sparrows. Anyone he managed to catch would feel the consequences for days.

Adults were not always fined either. Kelderman often preferred a stern verbal reprimand, delivered with colorful language, making it clear that a repeat offense would not be tolerated.

Reverend Eisinga once reproached him for his strong expressions, to which Kelderman replied, “You keep them in line from the pulpit, I do it in the street, each in our own way.” Drunkards were usually taken to the cell to sleep it off, after which they were sent on their way with unmistakable advice.

Public esteem

With stick and voice, Kelderman maintained order, and the villagers spoke of him with respect. During patrols in the surrounding woods, he carried a staff that concealed more than it revealed. When confronted by an aggressive poacher or thief, Kelderman would offer the stick.

If the offender grabbed it, the lower part came away in his hands, while Kelderman retained the upper section, revealing a hidden bayonet. Any resistance ended instantly. He is believed to have owned several such batons, though none have survived.

The duties of a village constable were extensive: investigating thefts, settling disputes between neighbors, handling complaints, conducting night patrols, and regularly reporting to Ede, all for a modest salary.

On October 28, 1878, the municipal council approved a small salary increase. As of January 1, 1879, the chief constable in Ede earned 380 guilders per year, while the constables of Bennekom and Otterlo received 350. Their colleagues in Lunteren and Veenendaal remained on their previous pay.

A royal visit

Occasionally, the quiet rhythm of village life was interrupted, as in 1882, when King William III planned a visit to Oranje Nassauoord near Renkum and traveled by carriage through Bennekom. The village was decorated with flags, and crowds gathered along the main street.

Among them stood baker Hannes Otten, an accomplished marksman, who decided the King should be welcomed with ceremonial gunfire. Hidden near the village pump, he unexpectedly fired two shots into the air, causing immediate panic.

The royal heralds intervened at once, but Constable Kelderman, in full dress uniform and carrying his saber, hurried forward and explained the baker’s intentions. The King accepted the explanation, the baker was released, and the procession continued, greeted by a relieved and enthusiastic crowd.

The bed warmer

Kelderman possessed a sharp investigative instinct, which even his former superior in Maurik relied upon. There, during a cold autumn period, the mayor’s bed warmer had been stolen, a device used to keep feet warm at night.

Kelderman walked to Maurik, visited an old acquaintance, and after a few drinks steered the conversation toward the theft. When his host finally confessed, Kelderman acted decisively, returned the bed warmer to the mayor, and was rewarded with gratitude, discretion, and a hearty stew.

Jan Kelderman died in Ede on Sunday, November 26, 1911, at the age of seventy-nine.