Barend Hilversum was born in Amersfoort on 3 December 1899 as the son of Heiman Hilversum and Aaltje Roodveldt. Barend earned his living as a peddler and dealer in irregular goods. On 18 June 1919, at the age of 19, he married in Amsterdam the 24-year-old Keetje Kloot, daughter of Salomon Kloot and …