Clean air for our kids, 1890-1940
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The boys group from Diesterweg's Hulpkas in Itegem (August 1899)
While initially founded in 1892 as a supportive organisation for teachers from the Antwerp city (or secular) schools, Diesterweg soon focused on charitable work in favour of disadvantaged or weak schoolchildren. As of 1894 “Diesterweg Hulpkas voor Behoeftige Schoolkinderen” provided meals and inaugurated “clean air” holiday camps for urban children in poor health on the coast, in the Ardennes or in the Campine.
(Photo by Ferdinand Claes)
Personal hygiene (1900)
The promotion of a good personal hygiene was one of the main goals of institutions like Diesterweg's Hulpkas. The Antwerp organisation followed the principles of the German liberal politician and progressive educator Adolph Diesterweg (1790-1866).
(Photo by Ferdinand Claes)
Outdoors (c. 1914-1919)
Within the daily programme of the open-air school like Diesterweg, walking, breathing exercises and the connection with nature were considered essential. As one doctor put it: "Where the sun doesn't come, the doctor comes".
(Photo by Ferdinand Claes)Diesterweg's HulpkasAntwerpschoolholiday campopen air school
The dormitory (c. 1914-1919)
Classy images such as this one of the girl's dormitory in Diesterweg's school, acted as visual guarantees for the outside world. Competition between catholic schools and state schools was fierce. Belgian liberals considered holiday camps as a promotion for state schools.
(photo Ferdinand Claes)
Schoolvilla
In July 1904 Diesterweg's Hulpkas inaugurated its own 'villa' in Heide-Kalmthout north of Antwerp, one of the first open-air schools in the world. Initially only during the summer months, from 1908 the villa opened its doors from March to December. Most children, singled out by the Antwerp city schools and medical examinations, resided there for at least 3 months.
Diesterweg's HulpkasAntwerpschoolholiday campopen air school
A healthy meal in the forest (1927)
The idea of providing weak children with fresh, clean air and a good meal is well illustrated in photos like this one from the charitable organisation Kindergeluk. Before introducing annual holiday camps on the Belgian coast, Kindergeluk took since 1924 Flemish children from Brussels to summer camps in the forest.
(Photo by A. Pierre, Brussels)
Kindergeluk (1928)
The charitable organisation Kindergeluk was founded in 1921 by collaborators of the liberal newspaper "Het Laatste Nieuws". Since 1928 to this very day Kindergeluk has been arranging annual summer holiday camps for Flemish children from Brussels in the seaside resort of Blankenberge. The ties with the newspaper are well demonstrated in this photo from July 1928.
KindergelukHet Laatste Nieuwsholiday campBrusselsBlankenberge
Arrival in Blankenberge (July 1929)
In this staged shot, children from Kindergeluk arrive in the railway station of Blankenberge at the beginning of their summer holiday camp. Imaging was essential for an organisation like Kindergeluk. The liberal newspaper "Het Laatste Nieuws" covered their activities extensively.
The departure (July 1938)
A bit of drama was always effective in the visualisation of the charitable activities. Children take leave of their families in Brussels-Midi Station on their way to the summer camp of Kindergeluk.
Kindergeluk in Blankenberge (July 1933)
A group of children from Kindergeluk strolling through the harbour of Blankenberge.
Ice cream! (July 1933)
Children from Kindergeluk are treated to an ice cream during their summer holiday camp in Blankenberge.
On the beach (1925)
Thanks to the action of organisations like the Charity work for school holiday camps in St. Amandsberg (Werk der Schoolkoloniën van Sint-Amandsberg), near Ghent, these kids were among the lucky few to enjoy a couple of weeks on the coast in 1925.
Werk der Schoolkoloniën van Sint AmandsbergGentholiday camps
Charity work for school holiday camps in St. Amandsberg (1933)
From 1923 the Charity work for school holiday camps in St. Amandsberg organised for pupils from state schools a free stay on the Belgian coast. The initiative was unsubsidised, so money had to be raised in various ways, including flower sales, gala performances and pigeon charity flights. In 1963, the newspaper "Het Laatste Nieuws" published this photo from 1933, hoping in an example of crowdsourcing avant-la-lettre that some of its readers might recognise themselves in this group.
Werk der Schoolkoloniën van Sint AmandsbergGentholiday camps
Street parade in St. Amandsberg (1933)
Ten years of successful charity work in St. Amandsberg are celebrated with a street parade highlighting the accomplishments of the organisation. In 1933 some 75 children from the area could enjoy a holiday and by the outbreak of World War II no less than 640 had spent a healthy three weeks on the coast.
Werk der Schoolkoloniën van Sint AmandsbergGentholiday camps
Ready to go (early 1930s)
Under the banner of the organisation, warmly dressed and with the knapsack shouldered, this group of children is all set to go on a seaside holiday. Kinderlust was founded in 1929 in Ghent by the women's section of the Liberale Volksgezinde Vereniging Help u Zelve. Emulating the activities of Kindergeluk in Brussels, Kinderlust organised holiday camps in the countryside around Ghent and on the Belgian coast for children in poor health from state schools.