Simon Berman
Encyclopedia
Simon Berman was the mayor
of Kwadijk, Middelie
, Warder, Schagen
, Bedum
, and Alblasserdam
in the Netherlands
. He was the first mayor of Kwadijk, Middelie, and Warder to actually live in one of these villages. As mayor of Schagen, he handled a double murder case that drew national media attention.
Simon Berman was the son of Gerarda Blom (1835–1881) from Alkmaar
and Ds. Alexander Johan Berman (1828–1886), a minister in Watergang
who hailed from Zierikzee
. Simon was raised in a needy family since his father, who suffered from poor health, was unable to advance his career after his first appointment as a preacher in a small parish.
, Simon Berman passed his exam for candidate town clerk. In 1890, at the age of 29, he was appointed mayor of Kwadijk, Warder and Middelie
. These three separate municipalities shared one mayor (and were in 1970 united into Zeevang
, along with neighboring Oosthuizen
and Beets). Simon Berman was the first mayor of Kwadijk, Warder, and Middelie to actually live among his constituents; Previous mayors had lived in Edam. The move of Berman into Kwadijk was accompanied by the movement of the local government office into the village.
In 1894 Berman was appointed as mayor of Schagen
, also in North Holland
. A few months after his installation, Schagen and the Netherlands were shocked by the double murder of Jansje Stoel, the 55-year old widow of Gerrit Bute, and her 17-year old niece Anna Bei(j)ers. Berman headed a committee that would pay 750 guilders, donated by the residents, for the golden tip and, as head of the local police, conducted several interrogations. After initially the wrong person was arrested, 17-year old Klaas Boes was arrested for perpetrating the murders. His mother committed suicide. Klaas Boes was sentenced to life imprisonment
, but this was later changed to 25 years. Berman was praised for the way he handled the case.
In 1896 Berman was elected chairman of the committee for establishing a tram connection between Alkmaar
and Schagen. In 1998 the opening of an agricultural school in Schagen, that Berman had supported, materialized. (The tram connection between Alkmaar and Schagen was opened only in 1913 and closed in 1968. The tracks were removed in 1970.)
Berman resigned as mayor of Schagen in 1900, explaining that his ideology conflicted with some of his functions. He was appointed administrator for the Christian anarchist
publishing house De Vrede in The Hague. In 1902 the publishing house moved to a related commune in Blaricum
, where members grew their own produce, ran a bakery, engaged in carpentering, and shared their belongings. Berman continued to manage publications, lived outside the commune (in nearby Laren
), and did not transfer his savings. The printing group moved to Amersfoort
in 1903.
From 1909 to 1914 Simon Berman was mayor of Bedum
, Groningen
.
From 1914 to 1923 he was mayor of Alblasserdam
in South Holland
.
. Agatha was a year Simon's senior and survived him by 17 years. Simon Berman's brother Alexander Johan, a notary in Nieuwendam
, was married to Johanna's sister Agatha Willink.
Simon and Johanna Berman had a daughter, Agatha Johanna (1890–1978), and two sons, Alexander Johan (1892–1943) and Gerard (1897–1988).
Simon Berman died on October 19, 1934 in Haarlem
, where Gerard Berman had established himself as a photographer.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Kwadijk, Middelie
Middelie
Middelie is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Zeevang, and lies about 5 km northeast of Purmerend.Middelie was a separate municipality until 1970, when the new municipality of Zeevang was created....
, Warder, Schagen
Schagen
Schagen is a town and municipality in the northwestern Netherlands. It is located between Alkmaar and Den Helder, in and region of West Friesland and the province of North Holland. In 2007, Schagen had 19.078 residents. It received city rights in 1415....
, Bedum
Bedum
Bedum is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands. Populated by around 10,000 inhabitants, Bedum is one of the larger of Groningen's several satellite towns....
, and Alblasserdam
Alblasserdam
Alblasserdam is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality covers an area of , of which is water. Alblasserdam is officially a part of the Drechtsteden...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He was the first mayor of Kwadijk, Middelie, and Warder to actually live in one of these villages. As mayor of Schagen, he handled a double murder case that drew national media attention.
Simon Berman was the son of Gerarda Blom (1835–1881) from Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
and Ds. Alexander Johan Berman (1828–1886), a minister in Watergang
Watergang
Watergang is a village in the northwest Netherlands. It is located in the municipality of Waterland, North Holland, about seven km north of Amsterdam, on the east bank of the Noordhollandsch Kanaal....
who hailed from Zierikzee
Zierikzee
Zierikzee is a small city, located on the former island of Schouwen in the Dutch province of Zeeland. It is a part of the municipality of Schouwen-Duiveland, and lies about 26 km southwest of Hellevoetsluis....
. Simon was raised in a needy family since his father, who suffered from poor health, was unable to advance his career after his first appointment as a preacher in a small parish.
Career
In 1885, while working at the municipal secretariat of PurmerendPurmerend
Purmerend is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The city is surrounded by polders, such as the Purmer, Beemster and the Wormer. The city became the trade center of the region but the population grew relatively slow. Only after 1960 did the population...
, Simon Berman passed his exam for candidate town clerk. In 1890, at the age of 29, he was appointed mayor of Kwadijk, Warder and Middelie
Middelie
Middelie is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Zeevang, and lies about 5 km northeast of Purmerend.Middelie was a separate municipality until 1970, when the new municipality of Zeevang was created....
. These three separate municipalities shared one mayor (and were in 1970 united into Zeevang
Zeevang
-Population centres :The municipality of Zeevang consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: Beets, Etersheim, Hobrede, Kwadijk, Middelie, Oosthuizen, Schardam, Warder.- Local government :...
, along with neighboring Oosthuizen
Oosthuizen
Oosthuizen is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Zeevang, and lies about 8 km north of Purmerend....
and Beets). Simon Berman was the first mayor of Kwadijk, Warder, and Middelie to actually live among his constituents; Previous mayors had lived in Edam. The move of Berman into Kwadijk was accompanied by the movement of the local government office into the village.
In 1894 Berman was appointed as mayor of Schagen
Schagen
Schagen is a town and municipality in the northwestern Netherlands. It is located between Alkmaar and Den Helder, in and region of West Friesland and the province of North Holland. In 2007, Schagen had 19.078 residents. It received city rights in 1415....
, also in North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
. A few months after his installation, Schagen and the Netherlands were shocked by the double murder of Jansje Stoel, the 55-year old widow of Gerrit Bute, and her 17-year old niece Anna Bei(j)ers. Berman headed a committee that would pay 750 guilders, donated by the residents, for the golden tip and, as head of the local police, conducted several interrogations. After initially the wrong person was arrested, 17-year old Klaas Boes was arrested for perpetrating the murders. His mother committed suicide. Klaas Boes was sentenced to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
, but this was later changed to 25 years. Berman was praised for the way he handled the case.
In 1896 Berman was elected chairman of the committee for establishing a tram connection between Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
and Schagen. In 1998 the opening of an agricultural school in Schagen, that Berman had supported, materialized. (The tram connection between Alkmaar and Schagen was opened only in 1913 and closed in 1968. The tracks were removed in 1970.)
Berman resigned as mayor of Schagen in 1900, explaining that his ideology conflicted with some of his functions. He was appointed administrator for the Christian anarchist
Christian anarchism
Christian anarchism is a movement in political theology that combines anarchism and Christianity. It is the belief that there is only one source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable, the authority of God as embodied in the teachings of Jesus...
publishing house De Vrede in The Hague. In 1902 the publishing house moved to a related commune in Blaricum
Blaricum
Blaricum is a municipality and village in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.It is known for its many monumental farm buildings, local cafes and restaurants, nature, several annual community events and extensive up-market residential areas...
, where members grew their own produce, ran a bakery, engaged in carpentering, and shared their belongings. Berman continued to manage publications, lived outside the commune (in nearby Laren
Laren
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called 't Gooi, it is the oldest town in that area. It is one of the richest towns in the Netherlands, along with its neighbour Blaricum...
), and did not transfer his savings. The printing group moved to Amersfoort
Amersfoort
Amersfoort is a municipality and the second largest city of the province of Utrecht in central Netherlands. The city is growing quickly but has a well-preserved and protected medieval centre. Amersfoort is one of the largest railway junctions in the country, because of its location on two of the...
in 1903.
From 1909 to 1914 Simon Berman was mayor of Bedum
Bedum
Bedum is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands. Populated by around 10,000 inhabitants, Bedum is one of the larger of Groningen's several satellite towns....
, Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
.
From 1914 to 1923 he was mayor of Alblasserdam
Alblasserdam
Alblasserdam is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality covers an area of , of which is water. Alblasserdam is officially a part of the Drechtsteden...
in South Holland
South Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
.
Personal and death
Simon Berman was married to Johanna Diderica Helena Willink. They married on July 11, 1888 in BennebroekBennebroek
Bennebroek is a town and former municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland, now part of Bloemendaal municipality. Before its merger, it was the smallest municipality in the Netherlands, covering an area of only 1.75 km².-History:...
. Agatha was a year Simon's senior and survived him by 17 years. Simon Berman's brother Alexander Johan, a notary in Nieuwendam
Nieuwendam
Nieuwendam is a former village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is now a neighbourhood of Amsterdam-Noord.Nieuwendam was a separate municipality until 1921, when it was merged with Amsterdam. The municipality covered the villages of Nieuwendam and Zunderdorp.-External links: Map of the...
, was married to Johanna's sister Agatha Willink.
Simon and Johanna Berman had a daughter, Agatha Johanna (1890–1978), and two sons, Alexander Johan (1892–1943) and Gerard (1897–1988).
Simon Berman died on October 19, 1934 in Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, where Gerard Berman had established himself as a photographer.