The article below has been copied from the village magazine “DE POELDIJKER” of 15 juni 2005 and is written by Koos van Leeuwen (Foto's by Sidney Linkers).

A chat with a picture

In the year that “Een praatje bij een plaatje” (A chat with a picture) become a part of our village magazine itself for a decade, one of the most impressive buildings of Poeldijk makes the century full. In that respect, in respect of the first data, a portion of modesty applies! In the past ten years there has been called several times  for attention for Hotel Saint Vincent or the former St. Vincent Building. The more elderly among us have experienced that building as a way to think of the club meeting place in our village.

In the month of June 2005 we can not live for extended again to consider the controlling image this Poeldijk building has. Especially since the June 27 a century ago, that pastor John Gall Kampwerth deposited the first stone of the building Vincent at the appropriate spot. In the autumn of this year, then one hundred years ago that the Poeldijk people could take their beautiful association building in use. That Poeldijk about the last century could no longer wait for a society building, was caused by the like mushrooms rising (youth) organizations. Associations with a lack of room could exercise their activities in any way.

Pastor Gallenkamp already tried to raise a building for the youth before 1900, he didn't make it financially. They had to do it with what they had for the time being. It meant they had to arrange a room with some regularity in the old elderly or poor-house that was located on the corner of the Voorstraat / Polder Avenue (later Verburgh Avenue). If this was for some reason impossible, then they could exceptionally appeal to some space with the nons. However, they often had to improvise, a situation not very encouraging.

Pastor John Gallenkamp was in January 1891 appointed to shepherd the Bartholomew Parish as the successor of the deceased priest in December 1890 John Görtz. Father Gallenkamp guarded his Poeldijk flock untill November 1907. In that month the ill priest moved to St. Martinus Foundation in Naaldwijk, where he past away a few days before the year 1907/1908. Father Gallenkamp has done a lot for the creation of (youth) organizations and was the leading man on the establishment of an association building in our village. He would probably not have succeeded without financial assistance from the outside. 

This cardinal point in everyone's life took place, for Dirk van den Berg born in 1820, on New 1904. His death was, with respect, for many association and citizens experienced as a welcome surprise. He had a long time to live in luxury.With the funds that came available in the course of 1904 pastor Gallenkamp knew what to do.

With the approval of his church, the pastor could at the end of his career still achieve his ideal. On a plot in the Voorstraat the owner Willem van Paassen gave the church an opportunity to build a associationbuilding. At that time known Poeldijk businessmen like carpenter Hein van der Haar and bricklayer / contractor IJsbrand Hagen got the construction order in the early spring of 1905.

The first stone of St. Vincent Building, carried out on one of the first summer days of 1905, there were countless Poeldijk citizens on the move. Of that ceremony a picture is in rotation, unfortunately not of a too high quality. Father Gallkamkamp and the two parish chaplain Borsboom and De Haas are recognized fairly distinct on that historic photograph. Do not worry, the memory is there and the old club building is still part of Poeldijk. A situation which in the future will be continued, especially since the typical building has retained its original contours.

Only because of lack of space in the St. Vincent Building there was intensive searching in the second half of the sixties for a bigger housing for the flourishing Poeldijk associations. This went many times to disappointments, untill the members of the flower cut auction "The Westland" at the Julianastraat decided to merge with the flower auction in Honselersdijk. That merger opened prospects for the creation of a broader housing for local associations. Although such a change was least obvious, it eventually came some thirty years ago. The Vincent Building used as a shelter for associations when largely was dismissed. Gone was the era of the celebrations, including weddings and anniversaries. The organization of dance, theater and musical performances, meetings, entertainment evenings and last but not least Santa-Claus celebration belonged to the past.

From New Year 1967 on was the Youth Contact Poeldijk a number of years the most intensive user of the now century-old Vincent Building or "De Bond". It was later renamed to "Soos 67".  Nobody before 1965 would have dared to call "De Bond" with its denigrating look the biggest association building. Great animator of "Soos 67" was then chaplain Harry de Jong, still living at Naaldwijk. At the time the from 1930 dated flowerauction opened its port as "De Leuningjes", the associations received shelter. Among them, the last Mohican of "De Bond", in particular "Soos 67". It is worth mentioning that "Soos 67" before a grand internal metamorphosis of the Vincent Building already made a start with renovationon on its behalf.

Through a brief vacancy and several temporary  entrepreneurs has Hotel Saint Vincent with guest hosts Rosita Zolyniak and Leen van der Kruk almost its third anniversary. Fifteen years in which the duo has proven and shown that the building, which many Westlanders keep precious memories, also is suitable for other purposes.

An excellent service, great affordable rooms, friendly management and personnel help hotel Saint Vincent into the second century with confidence. The architecture, established under the supervision of architect Jos Duynstee, adorns Poeldijk for now a century. A century in which a plaque with the name of donor Theodorus van den Berg stood there with proudness in front of the building all these years.