The ‘fröbelschool’ kindergarten was situated at the Utrechtse Road corner Hulkesteinse Road, only three minutes walk from home, down Oranje Street. A big and wide chestnut tree threw a large shadow over the steps leading towards a forest green door. Its mighty trunk, rough and mossy stood in a sea of smooth light-coloured pebbles that made going towards that entrance for small frightened legs even more difficult. It seemed those pebbles wanted to swallow you with a grinding sound.
But what was most overwhelming was the strange smell of the place and all those unfamiliar faces. Home seemed so far away and tears welled up, soon to cascade down the cheeks and some of us were desperate enough to hang on Mum’s dress with all their might.
However Sister Juliana, in her black nun’s attire and Miss Jacobs took the two hesitant Bosmans kids towards the light and sunny conservatory, facing a triangle –shaped grassy garden, partly framed by a high privet hedge. It didn’t take long for Jacqueline and Keith to settle down in their new surroundings, kept busy with games and pots of glue and coloured paper.
Jacqueline is standing near the top row with the white bow in her hair and white apron, near the nun. All the girls were provided with a white apron to protect their clothes, the boys apparently didn’t need any cover. Keith is seated fourth from left, between two girls and a doll. He is recognisable by his big lump on his forehead, acquired when he made a tumble from his rocking horse at the top of the staircase at home some weeks before. It needed quite a few stitches and parental consolation that time.
Names on that front row as much as I can remember (more than 70 years has past) are from left: Mulder, van Wijngaarden, the boy standing arms crossed is Siebenheller, last two are Chris van Amersvoort (Keith’s best friend) van der Sluijs who lived on a barge on the river Rhine. Further I recognize the Gorter (father a blacksmith), van Workum and Liethof boys in the middle and at the top Jan Hermsen from the baker on the corner.