Karin Sitalsing reconstructs the journey of a Groningen baker's son who served as a cook on the Titanic and died in the freezing waves
Author Karin Sitalsing reconstructs the life and final journey of Hendrik Bolhuis, a chef from Groningen who died during the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. The account draws on historical research and family memories to piece together the story of a man who transitioned from a baker's apprentice to a chef on the world's most famous ship.
Hendrik Bolhuis, a baker's son from the Dutch village of Wittewierum, worked as a professional chef on board the Titanic. On April 10, 1912, he departed from Southampton, only to lose his life four days later when the ship struck an iceberg and sank. Bolhuis was one of three Dutch citizens who perished in the disaster that claimed 1,522 of the 2,228 people on board. His family in Groningen did not learn of his presence on the ship until months after the tragedy, as he had not informed them of his assignment before leaving.
Author Karin Sitalsing has reconstructed Bolhuis's journey, drawing on limited historical records, family heirlooms like a pudding mold, and the perspectives of Titanic experts. By tracing the paths Bolhuis traveled as a chef in various European cities and researching the opulent culinary world of the Titanic, Sitalsing weaves his personal history into the broader narrative of the ship's doomed voyage. Her work also touches on the era's aspirations and reflects on her own family's history with maritime travel.
Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
