Hanover (Hannover) Occupations

The spiritual care of migrant workers of the Duchy of Osnabrück
Hollandgängerei, a seasonal work choice for Northwestern German laborers to supplement their income during the summer months with peat digging, scything and other activities in the northern provinces of Holland has its origins as far back as 1608 or further. Not only were the secular authorities aware of these activities, the ecclesiastical superintendence took notice as well. The first to become aware of such activities was Pastor Lenhartz who was installed in Ladbergen in 1837. He noticed that in the month of April around 180 young men would disappear from his parish and be peat digging in the northern parts of the Netherlands. While there, they were without any ties to God’s word and the Church. This concern brought about visits to the men in the peat bogs to preach to them and hand out liturgical literature.

Five work areas were visited by Pastor Lenhartz. 1.500-2.000 workers were distributed over 4 provinces. He registered 300 workers at Dedemsvaart in the province Overijssel. The number of workers in Heerenveen, province Friesland was not known. At Smilde and Assen in the province Drenthe were 240 workers. On Stadskanaal and Nieuw-Buinen in the province Groningen were 700 workers. There were also workers in Hoogeveen who were Roman-Catholics.

According to exact specifications, the number of workers who migrated yearly from the area of Lippe for peat digging and scything activities amounted to 309. Besides that an additional 1.340 persons from Lippe did work as brick burners. 540 workers were distributed over 50 work places in the provinces of Groningen and Overijssel, further 800 workers worked at 124 stations in Ostfriesland, Lingen, Osnabrück, and Münsterland. Finally, German workers were found near the Stadskanaal in glass factories.

Since the concern of brutalization among the migrants was very real, the clergy came up with a plan to regularly visit the workers and take care of their spiritual and other needs. There exists a list that in the year 1861 visits were planned during the summer months in Stadskanaal, Assen and Smilde, Dedemsvaart, Heerenveen, Winschoten, Groningen, Sneek, Leeuwarden, Harlingen, Franeker, and Lemmer. Travelling pastors were financed through contributions by the involved states, namely Prussia (Westpahlia), Hannover, and Lippe. In the winter months these ministers would reside in larger towns in the Netherlands and oversee the work among Germans.

In the state archive Osnabrück is evidence of letters written to the highest administration in Osnabrück asking to list those who on a yearly basis go to work in the Netherlands and from which villages they originate. The workers are Evangelical and their names are given. The record can be found in the state archive Osnabrück with Reference number 350 Osn. Nr. 414.

Source: Denkschrift betreffend die geistlichen Bedürfnisse der sogenannten Hollandgänger und die Befriedigung derselben 1861 in Migration History – International Institute of Social History, Aschendorf, Münster 2007