Brummelkamp, Anthony (1811-1888) | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Son of Johannes and Anna Henrietta (Hesselink), Anthony Brummelkamp was born on October 14, 1911 in Amsterdam.  Brummelkamp enrolled at the University of Leinden where he studied Theology.  After graduating, Brummelkamp moved to Hattem, Gelderland where he became the minister at Dutch Reformed Church.  In August of 1834, Brummelkamp married Maria Wilhelmina de Moen.

Shortly after being a confirmed minister, Brummelkamp became involved in heated debates over the baptism of children whose parent did not attend church and his refusal of singing Evangelic songs. These disagreements eventually led to the provincial church board removing him from his profession. To ensure that Brummelkamp would not continue to preach, soldiers were given quarters at his house. However, he continued to preach, even though he received 33 fines from doing so. Because of this repression, Brummelkamp encouraged his followers to immigrate to the United States, although Brummelkamp never did himself. Brummelkamp remained in the Netherlands and became a professor of theology. Brummelkamp passed away in June of 1888.