Son Sjeng (Johannes Hubertus, 06/03/1913-11/20/1987)


  Sjeng was born in Maastricht.

    05/03/1939 he married Tina (Hubertina Brepoels 09/27/1919  -  04/16/2001) and had 4 children.

Annie (09/06/1939) - Mia (10/30/1946) - Jan (04/23/1950) - Wiel (03/31/1951)

The complete family

The boys in ?

Sjeng Stokbroekx tells us how we lost our job and what solution he found.

I lost my job. No way you'd find another one, unless you knew people in the right places. I was still living at home, a bachelor. My dad had a decent job, he made money, so I didn't starve. Nevertheless I had to apply for welfare. Twice a day going to Boschpoort, dopje zetten. Fridays would be collection day and I could get my money at city hall. The man behind the counter, nicknamed the red V, used to be a policeman.

I received a whole total of 6 Dutch guilder. Even though still living at home, I pretended I was a single, living on my own; one had to fool them of course! So I said to the man: Is that all?

He flung back at me: Aren't you ashamed? Are you aware that a family with one child has to make do with eleven guilders and you want to make a noise here?

I took the six guilders and added cheekily: You know what you can do with your six guilders Red.........., choke on them.

The next Monday I jumped on my bike and headed for Belgium. I toured around Belgium for three days, when I finally got a job, working at the Albertcanal in Herstal. When that job was finished I also spent time working in the mines in   Ougrée, just north of Liege. Three consecutive years I biked from Maastricht to Liege, just to not have to live on welfare in Holland”.

During the depression Sjeng Stokbroekx worked the Walone industrial area; every day he rode his bike to work at “Bonne Espérance”, a mine in Liege. Here he tells us an anecdote regarding de border controls at the Dutch-Belgium border.

They once stopped me. The canal Zuid-Willem near Klein Ternaaien, was frozen over. Christmas was due in a fortnight. The civil servants, who, during the day would clear ships, couldn't work due to the canal being frozen over. They made them work nightshifts at the border crossing..

So I arrive there and one of them steps outside. I was loaded with some "hot" goods; I carried two radio lamps on me for my sister. The lamps in Belgium were much cheaper, you see..

The man says: Did you bring anything?

I could hardly say: No.

I replied: Yes, I brought some foodstuffs with me.

Why don't you follow me right inside. So I did step inside, brought my bag and unpacked everything on the desk.

Well, well son, looks like you are well provided.

I reply: May I please? I already had my excuse ready: Sir, I ride my bike every day for 60 kilometers so I can feed myself and not having to live at the expense of the Dutch Government and city. Well, we received a Christmas bonus there,   paid out in food stamps. It would be ridiculous to throw them out.

That's none of my concern, I'm going to write you up for a fine! Come back tomorrow, when the collector is here, he said.

I went back the next day; that collector knew me well, because he used to fish outside of the office in the summer and I would  always greet him friendly while passing  by.

What's going on, he said.

I was told to report here, they found me last night with….

O, so you are the sinner? What actually went on ,he did tell me some.

I said: listen here, at the Dutch mines people get Christmas bonus in the form of money, but over there in Liege, people get food stamps.  There are coops there, connected to the mine and one can change the food stamps into money. Since I could use some for Christmas, I figured: change the stamps, or else give them away, which I thought would be a waste.

That might be right, but you are carrying two radio lamps, he said.

I just happened to need them, I said.

This was breaking some  control-law or something, he said.

Some time later I had to appear in court. I think I was the 165th. to appear This person for 100 kilo butter, that one for 50 kilo sugar, and another one for the umpteenth time. Assembly line of fines.

Then came my turn. I put on the most pitiful face in the world and told my story again, laying it on thick. And... I never got any penalty, because I was so zealous, biking every day just to unburden the city”.