Nollius Hajonides van der Meulen (1862-1907) drowned

The “SS Berlin” was a steel ship of 1775 tons, build for use on the ferry service from Harwich to Hook of Holland. On Thursday 21 February 1907, around 5 o’clock, a huge wave struck the ship, causing her to become impaled on the tip of the granite breakwater at the entrance to the New Waterway, west of Rotterdam. A Dutch lifeboat attempted to offer aid, but the rough seas rendered it impossible to approach the stricken vessel. Around 6 o’clock the ship broke in two, drowning the majority of the passengers. Later, 16 survivors were rescued, while 128 people had drowned.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 5-3-1907

One notable passenger who drowned was a King’s messenger, Mr. Herbert, travelling with diplomatic bags. Another victim was Hendrik Spijker of the Spyker car company. The main subject of this blog post, Nollius Hajonides van der Meulen, was also killed in this disaster.

Leeuwarder Courant, 25-2-1907

Nollius Hajonides van der Meulen was born on 7 July 1862 in Leeuwarden as eldest son of Pieter Hajonides van der Meulen (1835-1875) and Anna Gorter (1838-1918).
As an Adult, Nollius Hajonides traded in flax. At the age of 32, on 27 June 1895 in Menaldumadeel, Nollius Hajonides van der Meulen married 25-year-old Clasiena Cornelia Alma. She was born on 11 April 1871 as daughter of Margrieta Maas (1842-1916) and Hermanus Alma (1839-1915).

Clasiena Cornelia and Nollis Hajonides are the parents of 2 sons:

1. Pieter Hajonides van der Meulen was born on 12-7-1896 in Leeuwarden. In Apeldoorn on 3-1-1923 he married Hinke Rijpma, aged 22, daughter of Ulbe Rijpma and Trijntje Kingma. Pieter Hajonides died in Boskoop on 23-5-1931.
2. Hermanus Hajonides van der Meulen was born on 3-3-1901 in Leeuwarden. Hermanus married Geertruij Adriana Schermers on 30-12-1925 in Zeist. They were divorced on 28-1-1952.

Both sons had their surname changed, adding their second name "Hajonides" in front of their surname "van der Meulen".

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 19-4-1949

The widow of Nollius Hajonides, Clasina Cornelia Alma, died at the age of 61 on 19 December 1938 in Arnhem. She had survived her husband by 42 years.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, HarwichAndDovercourt.co.uk, en.Wikipedia.org, AlleFriezen.nl, D. de Vries: "Genealogie Alma", Frysk Genealogysk Jierboekje 1970, p. 70-97, Wrecksite.eu.

Recommended reading: nl.Wikipedia.org, DagVanToen.nl, HistorischHoekVanHolland.nl, AndereTijden.nl, WOS.nl, DodenAkkers.nl, B. van der Meulen & P. Nieuwland: "Voorouders en verwanten van Mata Hari", Frysk Genealogysk Jierboek, 2017.