Biographies of remarkable residents of Voorschoten
In the “ centre ” in Voorschoten, across from the Kruispuntkerk and at the beginning of Schoolstraat, there is a memorial bench. It is a place to honor and remember notable and memorable residents of Voorschoten who have passed away.
Residents can nominate fellow villagers for a place on this memorial bench. The municipality will install plaques displaying the name and, where applicable, a photograph of the remarkable resident of Voorschoten. Alongside the name, a QR code will be placed linking to the municipal website, where you can find a more detailed biography.
On this page, you can read what this person has meant to Voorschoten.
Ton van der Pol
Voorschoten 18 May 1958 – Voorschoten 25 March 2022
Bon vivant, Sinterklaas lover and best friend of every resident of Voorschoten
Ton was a true friend to all, and a well-liked fellow villager. Thanks to his walking and cycling trips, he went everywhere, greeted everyone, and stopped for a chat whenever he felt like it. It did not matter with whom: Ton loved chatting with everyone, right up to the mayor! His waves were always accompanied by a cheerful 'hi'. But once he had enough, he was always quick to leave again, walking or cycling to a new nice place full of friends. He roamed the entire village, begging various shopkeepers in Schoolstraat for a cup of coffee, a cola, or a cookie, even though he was not actually allowed to eat cookies because of his diabetes. Now, Ton knew very well that he had diabetes, but he preferred to keep that to himself.
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 did various odd jobs there, such as taking away old glass and cardboard or sweeping the sidewalk. Sometimes he would walk around the “ neighbourhood ” with a litter picker and a bag to clean up litter. These were truly his special chores, which no one else did. He always walked through the neighborhood whistling, and after finishing his work, 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.
Sinterklaas
Ton was a great lover of Sinterklaas. Ideally, he wanted to talk about Sinterklaas and sing Sinterklaas songs all year round. Therefore, his best friends made an agreement with him that he could only talk about Sinterklaas again after the summer holidays. In the summer, Ton always wrote a letter to Saint Nicholas, asking where and when he would arrive this year. He would then ask his friends for paper, an envelope, and a stamp. How Ton got the address we will probably never know, but on the envelope he wrote a Postbus number. And every single year, Ton actually received a letter back from the holy man himself, stating in which city and on what date the national arrival would take place, and how many Piets he would bring along. And when Saint Nicholas came to Voorschoten, Ton was certainly there too, dressed as a Piet. Yet everyone immediately knew it was Ton when he greeted you.
Ton's love for the Sinterklaas celebration was so great that the Laurentius harmony orchestra played Sinterklaas songs at his funeral. Pepernoten and a Black Piet were placed on his coffin.
Life lesson
Everyone in Voorschoten knew Ton, and Ton knew everyone in Voorschoten. You could not get him angry; all of Voorschoten knew him as a cheerful and friendly man. Because of his mild intellectual disability, Ton lived in Dorpszicht, a residential location of the disability organization Gemiva. He was cared for there with affection. Ton lived there with great pleasure.
Ton always taught his supervisors, fellow residents, and the people of Voorschoten that whoever we are, we should not let ourselves be limited by what we perhaps cannot do. Accept what you can do, and above all, live and celebrate life to the fullest!