It was Willem van der Worm. “He did a career very quickly after that,” Vedha says. “Willem will become the biggest man in Rotterdam.” He heads towards one of Rotterdam’s port grandsons. “Then here is the Wilhelminapier,” says Veda. “It was certainly the domain of the Holland-America line, but it became Willem’s domain.” Willem van der Worm took the line. “Did he take everything?” Paul screams in surprise. He likes it.
Art
Van der Worm took over in the early 1930s, when the company struggled with the crisis. “Under his rule, the Holland-US line has grown into one of the most profitable companies in Rotterdam,” says Vedha. “He, too, wanted to do something good for the city,” the historian begins. Van der Worm advised on collecting and purchasing arts. He donated some of those paintings, and he also donated money to buy other paintings by Boiseman von Pooningen.
Paul now knows who Willem van der Worm is, but it is not yet known what the connection is between this harbor baron and his grandmother. She knew it was her uncle. “He died childless, but his relatives captured the Dutch-American fortress.” That’s how the family got the money. “So the bridesmaids have nothing to do with this,” Paul concludes about the acquisition when he looks at the old photo.
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Part of Paul’s roots are also in Turin. Providing The hidden past There is Here Look back!