Gerontology Wiki
Floor van Cleemputte
Floor van Cleemputte
Van Cleemputte in 2014.
Birth: 28 September 1907
Terneuzen, Zeeland, The Netherlands
Death: 20 May 2015
Spijkenisse, South Holland, The Netherlands
Age: 107 years, 234 days
Country: NetherlandsNED
Centenarian

Florentinus Anthonius "Floor" van Cleemputte (28 September 1907 – 20 May 2015) was a Dutch centenarian who was the oldest known living man in the Netherlands at the time of his death.

Biography[]

Van Cleemputte was born in Terneuzen in 1907 He was an illegitimate child. His mother was a woman named C. A. van Hecke, and his stepfather, P. H. van Cleemputte, took care of him. Floor began work in 1925 as a carpenter and wagon maker, with a meager salary of 12 cents an hour. Floor felt unwanted at home and secretly joined the Royal Netherlands Navy, as his parents would obviously refuse. His motto was "Get the most out of it". Floor was a naval veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

Van Cleemputte lived independently until he moved into a retirement home in 2013. He became the oldest living Dutchman on 14 November 2014 after Serop Mirzoyan died at the age of 108. In an interview taken following Mirzoyan's death, he was asked if he wanted to live to Jeanne Calment's record age of 122. He said "I'd rather not". Floor enjoyed eating candy, and said his secrets to longevity were simply breathing and living well. He died on 20 May 2015, aged 107 years, 234 days. Wim Hendriks succeeded him as the oldest living man in the Netherlands.

References[]


Netherlands's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (VE)

Jannes Reiling • Hendrikus van Horsen • Petrus Bartelen • Keimpe Nijdam • Jan Kip • Wilhelmus Kostering • Willem van der Hulst • Marinus Wolffensberger • Johannes Hesseling • Jacob Hazewinkel • Willem Wels • Andre Beekman • Watze Watzema • Henri van Dooren • Cornelis Bredijk • Huibert Prins • Hendrikus Verhoeven • Johannes van der Hoeven • Marcus Faasse • Gerrit van der Horst • Martin Hendrix • Hendrik Nessen • Pieter Zandee • Johannes Rijstenbil • Arthur Notte • Johannes Linning • Gerardus Boomaerts • Jan Nijenhuis • Dirk van der Kooij • Pieter Zaaijer • Albert Geerlings • Jan Machiel Reyskens • Cornelis Jansen • Hendrikus de Bijl • Johannes van Capel • Reinier Pelgrom • Jan de Winter • Frits Rijkens • Jan Pieter Bos • Frits Botterblom • Henri Timmermans • Joop Rosbach • Ko de Lavoir • Jan Voogt Pzn • Jan van der Giessen • Adrianus van der Vaart • Jos Wijnant • Cornelis Geurtz • Gerard Helders • Arie Vermeulen • Tjeerd Epema • Serop Mirzoyan • Floor van Cleemputte • Wim Hendriks • Jacob Berg • Dirk van der Noen • Jan Willem van de Kamp • Eelke BakkerJohn Huang