The Beemster family starts with Klaas van Dort, who married Anna van Egmond (on 7 novembre 1695?). Little is known about the family in the early days. In 1865 however a Family Bible is published by A.C. Kruseman in Haarlem. In this bible names can be found of all people who subscribed. Among the names are those of the King, the Queen and the Princes Hendrik and Frederik and

• C. van Dort - Haarlemmermeer
• K. van Dort - Schoorl

Hans van Dort has one of those bibles in his property. It is likely that Klaas van Dort, born 13 octobre 1824 and either Cornelis his brother, born 3 novembre 1828 or their father Cornelis, born 8 january 1797, were the ones who subscribed to this bible 16). Soccer champion Jan Leendert van Dort (born 25 may 1893, Heemstede) started playing soccer when he was thirteen in a local club called HVV (Heemsteedsche Voetbalvereniging), soon followed by EDO (Haarlem) In 1912 he started playing for Ajax (one of the Dutch best soccer teams) and the year next he made his debute in the first team. Jan was known for his goals, which was rewarded by a spot in the national team in 1920 for the Olympics. He's still on the list of top scorers for Ajax with 73 goals. He played 5 interlands. In 1922 he left Ajax for Vitesse (Arnhem). Jan van Dort playing his game. Source Ben Meerveld. World War II Hans' father, (Johan) Jan van Dort, born 15 august 1902, was a sales director in Vlaardingen. After his second mariage with Mimi Hammer both moved to Vienna. When the Germans occupied Austria in the second World War, they moved back to the Netherlands to Seinpostduin in Scheveningen. But the war came to Holland too. During the war this area of Scheveningen became Sperrgebiet, forbidden zone, so that Jan and Mimi had to move again. Loes and Hans van Dort were born during the war in Bethlehem hospital. Unfortunately Jan van Dort was killed in a bombardment only 19 days after Hans was born 16).

Prince Bernhard was a guest of Mimi van Dort at the fair. Photo from Hans van Dort, 16).