Gijsbert Nap (1904 – 1963)
Biography of Gijsbert Nap, by his son Jan.
Early Years
Gijsbert Nap (in short: Gijb), born October 3rd 1904, died December 24th 1963, lived his whole life in Kamerik. I don't know much about his youth. His schooling was limited to primary school. Later he appreciated the schoolresults of his sons.
He was honest enough to tell that his own schoolreports often ended up in the water when the results weren't good enough.
Grocer
Being the only son of a grocer, he was predestined to take over the business. The name groceryshop isn't quite right.
They carried a very large assortment, they also carried convenience products for farmers.
Every wednesdaymorning a stream of cheeseboats came by our house (currently Restaurant "de Herberg"), on their way to the cheesemarket in Woerden.
His father, Arie Nap, busied himself early in the morning put out hayrakes, milkblocks, willow baskets, all sorts of rope, clogs etcetera on display in front of the shop.
Regularly one of the farmers stopped to buy something he needed.
Another source of income was the buying of eggs, an activity which could easily be combined with the deliveries.
The eggs were sold on to wholesaler Dries Verweij in Woerden.
Deliveries
In those years groceries still were delivered. The process of delivery consisted of two stadia. First the customers were visited to 'hear', this meant that the deliveries were noted. Next the deliveries were made which was done by transportbike with a big basket on the front. He consequently avoided the use of the telephone, which became popular in his time, to prevent him, as he always said, from "cycling to Oud-Kamerik for a pound of salt."
Supplies
The shop was supplied by boats, the best way of transport in these surroundings with so may waterways. Father Arie actually started the business with a rowingboat. In the wintermonths a large sleigh was used. In my childhoodyears the sleigh was still used when winters were harsh. Brother Bert tried to find the sleigh at the 75th anniversary of the shop but didn't succeed.
Travelers
The visits from salesmen (called 'travelers') were bound by rituals. The salesman of the Utrecht Tradingco., later named Centra, was received in the livingroom, as was Jac. Van Vliet, from Alphen aan de Rijn, who maintained our supply of biscuits.
A visit from mister Tom, rope manufacturer from Gouderak, was a happening in itself.
Mister Tom arrived by bus. With Mister Tom, being a religious man, the spiritual life and especially the qualities of (Reformed) reverends in both places were discussed at length.
A good example of the fact that one worked as long as it was light. The hasty pace of today unknown to them.
Father Arie and Uncle Gijsbert, an unmarried brother of Arie, worked in the shop until they died.
While I never heard him say it out loud, the groceryshop never was my fathers' real calling.
He was more attracted by a life on the farm and he was lucky that he lived in the country and had a lot of farmers for customer.
In any case he was remarkably understanding about the fact that his middle son (that would be me) avoided the shop whenever he could.
Mar Korver
At the annual Missionday of the Reformed Church in Zeist he met Mar Korver, who at that time had been working on her parents' farm in Oud Kamerik for several years. Without a doubt he already knew her from seeing her in the shop and in Church. On that day however something sparked and a marriage took place.
Firebrigade
The voluntary firebrigade played an important role in his life. After a heavy thunderstorm all the men would walk out on 'The Meent' to see if there was a fire somewhere.
Being a farmersvillage, Kamerik had a fair share of haystacks and haystacks produce internal heat due to bacterial fermentation. If the hay was baled from moist grass, the heat produced can be enough to set the haystack on fire. In that case the shop was left and he became a firefighter.
He was a fireman up to his sudden demise in 1963. He was buried within the ceremonies of the firebrigade. While he only took up a modest place in the community of Kamerik, the whole village attended his funeral. His death as well as his funeral were mentioned in the 'Woerdense Courant', the regional newspaper, which is a sign that he was a much loved man in the village.
'Kippeknip'
His big hobby was keeping rabbits, specifically white Flemish Giants. Once a year an small animals exhibition is held in Kamerik called 'Kippeknip' (=ChickenCut). I never knew where that name originated untill I came to live in Kampen: my neighbour Hendrik is a breeder of chicken. From chickens, worthy enough to be exhibited, 'unwanted' feathers are removed and the comb and feet are greased with butter.
Firebrigade and Small Animals organised annual daytrips, the only holidays my parents would allow themselves. The rest of the year they busied themselves with the the care of shop and family.
Jan Nap
Kampen, March 2007
