In the spring of 1903, I had finished primary school and that meant helping out on the farm. But in winter there was no work on the farm for all the boys, so the headmaster recommended that I return there. I came in the so-called seventh grade with master Wichers. From 1904 to 1907 I went on J. Roos’ barge. Then my career in merchant shipping began. On 28 April 1907, I embarked as messenger boy on the S.S. “Danae” of the KNSM.