Bartje facts for kids
Bartje Bartels is a famous character from a series of books written in Dutch by Anne de Vries. These stories were first published in the early 20th century. The books tell about a young boy named Bartje who grows up in a poor farm family. His home is in the countryside of Drenthe, a province in the north-east of the Netherlands.
Bartje's story shows what life was like for many families in Drenthe a long time ago. It's a tale about growing up, facing challenges, and having your own ideas.
Who is Bartje?
Bartje (pronounced "BAR-che") is a boy whose father is a farmer with not much money. Bartje's parents expect him to follow in his father's footsteps and become a farmer too. But Bartje has different dreams and doesn't want to live the same life.
He starts working to learn a trade, but then something sad happens: his mother passes away. This means Bartje has to take on a big responsibility. He must help look after his younger brothers and sisters.
The Famous Quote
One of the most well-known parts of the Bartje books is a scene about food. Bartje's family is about to eat a meal of brown beans. Bartje really dislikes brown beans!
When his mother tries to serve him, he pushes his empty plate away. He even refuses to say grace, which is a prayer to thank God for the food. Bartje famously says: Ik bid nie veur bruune boon'n. In modern Dutch, this means: I don’t pray for brown beans. His parents are very surprised and upset by his words. Bartje gets into a lot of trouble for this!
Bartje on Television
Bartje has become a much-loved symbol for the province of Drenthe. His stories are very important to the people there.
The books were made into a popular television series in 1972. It was so popular that it was shown again in 2004. The actors in the show spoke in the local Drenthe dialect, so the series had Dutch subtitles for everyone to understand.
You can find a statue of Bartje in the town of Assen, in Drenthe. It's a bronze statue that reminds people of this special character. Sadly, the statue has been damaged by vandals a few times.
