Alphert, Baron Schimmelpenninck van der Oye

Alphert, Baron Schimmelpenninck van der Oye’s father Jan was a politician, serving in both chambers of the Dutch Parliament for the Christian CHU, presiding over the Senate 1902-1914. Alphert studied law at Utrecht University after which he worked briefly for the County Council of Utrecht (also CHU). He then became mayor of the villages of Doorn and Maarn and later took over the family estate around Hoevelaken. Baron Schimmelpenninck van der Oye was Dutch épée champion in 1910 and also competed in golf, tennis, and shooting sports. One of his daughters, Gratia Schimmelpenninck van der Oye, competed as an Alpine skiier at the 1936 Winter Olympics.

Baron Schimmelpenninck van der Oye became president of the Dutch NOC in 1925, joining the IOC that same year. His main achievement was organizing a public fund raising campaign for the 1928 Olympics, after the Dutch government refused to support it financially. In 1942, IOC President Henri, Count de Baillet-Latour died. Despite the Nazi occupation of his country, Baron Schimmelpenninck van der Oye made his way to Brussels for the funeral as an IOC representative. He was met there by a number of high-ranking Nazis who made several speeches and then laid a monstrous wreath at the grave in the name of the Führer. De Baillet-Latour’s family was appalled but Schimmelpenick van der Oye broke the silence with a dignified speech on behalf of the IOC and laid a standard-sized wreath at the gravesite.