Jan van de Biggelaar, born in 1913, alderman of the municipality of Vessem and organist in the parish church, is married to Johanna. They live in this building at 11 Servatiusstraat and have farmed there for many years. They have a mixed farm in the farm with some cows and pigs. Part of the house, the stable on the right side of the building, served as a warehouse for the farmers' union for some time. Brother Harrie van de Biggelaar is director of the Boerenleenbank and uses the front room on the left as an office for several years. Customers also come here to do their business!
In 1957 Jan van de Biggelaar dies and Harrie also stops with the activities of his office. He moves into the new Boerenleenbank building.
May 1958
The board of the Willibrordusstichting from Heiloo buys the farm at Servatiusstraat 11 from Mrs. Maria van de Biggelaar. Patients of this psychiatric institution of the Brothers of Our Lady of Lourdes come there for many years during the months of March to October. holidays. Not only they, but also brothers, scholastics, postulants, novices and pupils from the brother houses, come there. The farm and the meadows behind it have great appeal for those who seek peace and quiet.
After a few years, the Willibrordus Foundation donated the farm to the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady of Lourdes.
This congregation was founded by Modestus Stephanus Glorieux, a priest who lived and worked in East Flanders, Belgium. He was ordained a priest in 1825. As a curate in Ronse he was soon confronted with the poverty of the workers. In 1830 he founded the Brotherly Congregation of Good Works, followed in 1845 by the foundation of the Sisters of Mercy. The congregation of the brothers flourished in both Belgium and the Netherlands. Later a superior general changed the name to: Broeders van O.L. van Lourdes. The brothers mainly devoted themselves to different kinds of works of charity: education, nursing, social work and upbringing.
In the hall of the pilgrim farm there is still a bust of the founder.