Theo Budde

Theo Cornelis Budde was born 28th August 1889 in Ootmarsum, The Netherlands. As a watchmaker, jeweller and antique dealer, he continued the business that his father had established in Ootmarsum.

Impact on tourism

Budde was instrumental in establishing tourism in the well preserved medieval town of Ootmarsum. This remains the largest form of income for the local economy. He recognised the value of the old buildings, the original layout of the streets, and the many traditions that had survived the changing times. He was an active member of the Twensen Schrieversboond. (the Twents writers guild). He loved "his" Ootmarsum and wrote many poems about it.

His legacy

After his death in 1959, Budde’s poems were published under the title; ‘ne gapse vol’ (a handful). They were republished at the celebration of the 110th anniversary of his birth in August 1999. His poems are still recited at the various tourist and local activities in Ootmarsum, and there is seldom a new book published about this historic town without a mention of his name, a line or the full text of one of his poems. Together with like-minded people in town he formed a core group that kept alive important traditions such as vloggelen at Easter (a procession of people holding hands and singing two religious traditional Eastern songs while walking through town through farm house and certain buildings) during, for example, the difficult times of war.

External links

* [http://www.budde.com.au/budde] Budde History