Charles Gesner van der Voort's friend Phil Beekmeijer lived in Hong Kong with his wife Ans Beekmeijer-Kroeze when this photo was taken. In this year, 1951, he had been awarded with the Dutch Bronze Cross, for his "very courageous and prudent acting" during the Battle of Arnhem, "in which he did not sleep for three days", his daughter Liesbeth adds. Proud of the honour of receiving the award, he wore the decoration, for the occasion of waving off friends for a 'big leave', which Holland-China Trading Company (HCHC) staff were entitled to after working abroad for four years. <Read more ...>
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Charles Gesner van der Voort worked at Holland-China Trading Company in 1939. Twenty years earlier, Bob de Vries' father worked for HCHC in Hong Kong. This photo shows the Hong Kong office staff in 1926.
Original caption reads: "Hong Kong 1926 - - Staff of the newly formed Holland China Trading Co. Note the flag of the recently established Nationalist government." <Read more ...>
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Portrait of Willem Kien (1877, Arnhem - 1970, The Hague), who was educated in Dresden and lived there with his family.
Ca. 1898 he went to China to work. In 1903 he became representative of Holland-China Trading Company (HCHC) in Shanghai, when the company was founded. Charles would join the company in 1938, first as a trainee in the Rotterdam head office and then in Shanghai, in 1939. <Read more ...>
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Portrait of Phil Beekmeijer, on of Charles' friends in Shanghai in 1940, as well as in Hong Kong in 1950. They both worked at Holland-China Trading Company, with offices in Rotterdam, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tientsin (Tianjin).
This Holland-China Trading Company photo shows Charles' friend and colleagues Phil Beekmeijer, last row, third from the left and Karel Baggerman. Charles is last row, right from the large pillar, fourth man.
The photo was taken by Ming Yuen Studio, 6 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong. <Read more ...>
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Charles worked at Holland-China Trading Company in 1939. Twenty years earlier, Bob de Vries' father worked for HCHC in Hong Kong. This photo shows members of the Dutch community at the time.
Original caption reads: "Hong Kong 1919 - - Members of the Netherlands community in Hong Kong. Notice the shortage of women!" An arrow indicates 'Pa', Dutch for dad. <Read more ...>
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Charles Gesner van der Voort worked in Shanghai for Holland-China Trading Company (HCHC), which had offices in Hong Kong and Tientsin (Tianjin) also. I am preparing a book about Charles and his friends. While doing research for the book, many people contributed photos, several of which can be found on Flickr. Quite a few photos relate to Hong Kong, from the 1900s to 1930s. Please enjoy and I look forward to your comments and additional information you may have.
