Teunis Pluim

Born in Renswoude on January 8, 1864, Teunis Pluim was a Dutch teacher and writer who spent much of his life in Baarn. After training as a teacher in Amerongen, he worked in Utrecht and Hoogland before joining the Oosterschool in Baarn in 1886. In 1904 he became head of the new Westerschool, a post he held until his retirement in 1929.

Alongside his work in education, he wrote widely: novellas, poems, literary studies, articles, schoolbooks, and works on language and history. Contemporary summaries note that his books were used not only in the Netherlands but also in places such as South Africa and the Dutch East Indies. He is also remembered for books including Grieksche heldensagen and De levende taal.

Pluim had a strong interest in local history and archaeology, writing about subjects such as burial mounds, the Kei van Lage Vuursche, excavations on the Hilversum heath, and walks around Baarn. In 1929 the municipal council of Baarn entrusted him with caring for the town archive and helping trace historically important documents and objects. He died in Baarn on October 21, 1931.