Biographies of Notable Residents of Voorschoten
In the center of Voorschoten, across from the Kruispuntkerk and at the beginning of Schoolstraat, there is a memorial bench. It is a place to honor and commemorate notable and distinguished residents of Voorschoten who have passed away.
Residents can nominate fellow villagers for a spot on this commemorative bench. The municipality will install plaques here bearing the name and, if applicable, a photo of the notable resident of Voorschot. Next to the name, a QR code will be placed that links to the municipal website, where you can find a more detailed biography.
On this page, you can read about what this person has meant to Voorschoten.
Ton van der Pol
Voorschoten, May 18, 1958 – Voorschoten, March 25, 2022
A bon vivant, a fan of Sinterklaas, and the best friend of everyone in Voorschot
Ton was a true friend to everyone and a beloved member of the village community. Thanks to his walks and bike rides, he went everywhere, greeted everyone, and, when he felt like it, would strike up a conversation. It didn’t matter who it was with: Ton loved to chat with absolutely everyone, right up to the mayor! His waves were always accompanied by a cheerful “hi.” But when he’d had enough, he’d always be off again in a flash, walking or biking to a new fun spot full of friends. He roamed all over the village, scrounging a cup of coffee, a Coke, or a cookie from various shopkeepers on Schoolstraat—even though he wasn’t really supposed to eat cookies because of his diabetes. Ton knew he had diabetes, but he preferred not to tell anyone.
Volunteer Work
For many years, Ton volunteered at the Morschwijck community center in Leiden. Every Monday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., he would do various odd jobs there, such as taking away old glass and cardboard or sweeping the sidewalk. Sometimes he would walk around the neighborhood with a litter picker and a bag to clean up litter. These were truly his special chores, which no one else did. He would always walk through the neighborhood whistling, and once his work was done, he’d sit down at the bar with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. And people would always come up to him for a chat. Because when Ton was there, it meant a good time.
Saint Nicholas
Ton was a huge fan of Sinterklaas. He loved nothing more than to talk about Sinterklaas and sing Sinterklaas songs all year round. That’s why his best friends made a deal with him that he wouldn’t be allowed to talk about Sinterklaas again until after summer vacation. Every summer, Ton would write a letter to Sinterklaas, asking where and when he would arrive that year. He’d ask his friends for paper, an envelope, and a stamp. We’ll probably never know how Ton got the address, but he wrote a P.O. box number on the envelope. And every year, Ton actually received a letter back from Saint Nicholas himself, in which he wrote in which city and on what date the national arrival parade would take place, and how many helpers he would bring along. And when Saint Nicholas came to Voorschoten, Ton was definitely there, dressed as one of his helpers. But still, everyone knew right away that it was Ton when he greeted you.
Tons' love for the Sinterklaas celebration was so great that the Laurentius brass band played Sinterklaas songs at his funeral. There were pepernoten and a Zwarte Piet on his coffin.
Life Lesson
Everyone in Voorschoten knew Ton, and Ton knew everyone in Voorschoten. You couldn’t make him angry; all of Voorschoten knew him as a cheerful and friendly man. Because of his mild intellectual disability, Ton lived at Dorpszicht, a residential facility run by the disability organization Gemiva. He was lovingly cared for there. Ton really enjoyed living there.
Ton always taught his caregivers, fellow residents, and the people of Voorschoten that no matter who we are, we shouldn’t let ourselves be limited by what we might not be able to do. Accept what you can do, and above all, live and celebrate life to the fullest!