This is a portrait of Trijntje Vanderkloot, wife of Matthijs. Matthijs was born on 8 January 1827 in Middelharnis, Goeree-Overflakkee, Zuid-Holland. Trijntje Smit was born on 2 May 1832 in Oude Sluis, Zijpe, Netherlands. They were married on 15 November 1851 in Zijpe, Noord Holland.

Matthijs and Trijntje’s son Pieter Vanderkloot went back to Holland in early 1886 and brought his parents (Matthijs and Trijntje) and siblings (Matthijs, Jannetje, Cornelius, and Jan) to Chicago. They all arrived in New York on March 22, 1886, and headed for Chicago where their other sons Adrianus and Marinus were.

Trijntje is very well dressed in this portrait as is Matthijs in the matching portrait. It appears they are doing well and have nice clothes. In his portrait, Matthijs appears to be in his early 60s, suggesting a photo date of in the early 1890s. One such date for both of them having a photo in that period was their 40th wedding anniversary, November 15, 1891. At that date, Matthijs was 64 and Trijntje 59.

Trijntje's hair is parted in the middle and drawn tight. Her dress is very conservative, and there is a small brooch clip at the collar. In the “Vanderkloots and Kramers in the Park photo of 1897,” Trijntje appears to be wearing the same dress and brooch that she is wearing. Matthijs’ beard in that photo, though, has turned white.

The original photograph was taken at the Fulsang Photographic Studios at 2486 Archer Avenue in Chicago. A search of “Chicago Photographers in Chicago Directories” indicates J.S. Fulsang was at 2486 Archer Avenue in Chicago from 1881-1892, a range that allows for a November 1891 portrait.

Dave Jordan took this photograph at Dick Denker's 1988 Vanderkloot Reunion in Crystal Lake, Illinois, from a photograph brought by Robert Vanderkloot of Michigan. If you would like to add information about this picture, please contact Dave Jordan, a 2x great-grandson of Matthijs and Trijntje Vanderkloot. The Picture Reference Number is DJB11.