1861

Franciscus Josephus Maria (Frans) Huijsser is born on 27 March in Amsterdam, as the first of eleven children in the Huijsser family. Frans’ father, Gerardus Hendricus Huijsser, is a merchant working at the family business, E&A Scheer, located in Amsterdam. Frans’ mother is Wilhelmina Elisabeth Maria Gompertz.

Ca. 1866

Frans Huijsser becomes friends with Ignatius Bispinck (1860–1924). In 1900, Huijsser mentions this childhood friendship in an article about Bispinck, which he writes for the magazine Lux.

1868

On 18 July, Frans’ brother, Johan Franciscus Joseph (Johan), is born in Bloemendaal. On 31 July, the Huijsser family moves to Nieuwe Heerengracht 95 (Neighbourhood V, Ring 3) in Amsterdam.

Ca. 1870–‘71

Ignatius Bispinck teaches Frans how to take photographs with a self-built camera and how to make prints on albumen paper (see Lux 1895, p. 160 and Lux 1900, p. 332). Frans and his younger brother, Johan, will later collaborate frequently with Bispinck, as well influencing one another’s work.

1873­–1953

On 22 October, the youngest son of the Huijsser family is born in Amsterdam. His name is Henri Eugène Joseph (Henri). He too will later become interested in photography, just as his brothers Frans and Johan. Not much is known about Henri Huijsser’s achievements in photography, other than that he makes glass lantern slide plates in his free time, as well taking part in the same exhibitions together with his brothers. He is known as ‘the third Huijsser’ and remains in the background of the Dutch photography world. Henri Huijsser dies on 21 September 1953 in Haarlem.

1877

G.H. Huijsser, Frans’ father, dies on 8 March. Wilhelmina Huijsser, Frans’ mother, takes over the running of the family business, E&A Scheer. Frans and Johan assist their mother to the best of their ability, but become more active in the company only at a later stage.

1884–‘85

On 29 September, Wilhelmina Huijsser arrives with her four daughters and two sons at the city of Valkenburg aan de Geul. They settle at an unknown address. Wilhelmina Huijsser’s profession is stated for the first (and the last) time as ‘rentmeester’ (an administrator), as listed next to her name in the civil registry.

On 13 October, Wilhelmina Huijsser registers with the city of Maastricht, together with the same children. They family resides together at Boschstraat 1221 until 30 May 1885.

1890

On 28 August, Frans Huijsser is one of four witnesses at the marriage of his brother Johan to Augustina Routs in Bloemendaal.

1891

From the marriage of Frans Huijsser and Clara Elisabeth Sofïe Jacobsen (born in Düsseldorf, Germany, on 26 January 1862 as the daughter of the painter Sophus Jacobsen; the year of Frans and Clara’s marriage is unknown), a daughter is born in Bloemendaal on 27 August, Elisabeth Clara (Betsy). (Betsy dies in Spremberg, Germany, on 14 April 1961.)

1892–‘96

The Photographisch Jaarboek (‘Photographic Yearbook’) of 1892 publishes a list of photography assocations in the Netherlands. F.J.M. Huijsser of Overveen is cited as the chairman of the HAFC (Haarlemsche Amateur-Fotografen Club, ‘Haarlem Amateur Photographers Club’), founded on 26 January 1891. It is not known if Huijsser served in this function at the time of the club’s founding. The Weekblad voor Fotografie (‘Weekly of Photography’) of 1896 (p. 58) still refers to him as chairman, but also as the chairman of the ‘Regelingscommissie’ (‘organising committee’) for the Internationale Tentoonstelling ter Bevordering der Fotografie (‘International Exhibition for the Promotion of Photography’), which is held in Haarlem from 16 to 26 May. Frans’ brother, Henri, is also on the organising committee. It is not known for how long Frans Huijsser remains chairman of the board.

1893-‘94

Frans Huijsser publishes an article in the Photografisch Jaarboek, entitled ‘Iets over clubtochten’ (‘Something about Club Excursions’). He complains about the club members’ lack of participation and the attitude of those members who, during a club excursion, would rather remain sitting in a café than venturing out to take photographs. Moreover, there are various members who, when photographing, are spending too much time looking to see which places the best amateurs choose and subsequently taking their photos from the very same spot. Huijsser argues for club sanctions in order to achieve better results.

1894

Frans Huijsser is a jury member for the Internationale Tentoonstelling tot Bevordering der Fotografie, held from 25 March to 8 April in Maastricht.

In the same year, Frans, Johan, and Henri Huijsser take part in the Internationale Tentoonstelling tot Bevordering der Fotografie, held from 2 to 10 June in Groningen. Frans exhibits snow landscapes here.

1895

On 3 January, at a membership meeting of the HAFC, Maurits Binger commemorates Frans Huijsser’s and Ignatius Bispinck’s twenty-fifth year of having worked as amateur photographers. At this ‘huldiging’ (honorary celebration), Frans is referred to as ‘the producer of the most beautiful moon landscape’.

In the magazine Lux, Frans Huijsser of Overveen is cited as having been appointed as a committee member of the ‘Onderlinge Amateur-Fotografen-Vereeniging “Rondreisportefeuille”‘ (‘Mutual Amateur Photographers Association “Excursion Portfolio”‘), representing Haarlem (p. 256–257).

Huijsser’s submission of glass lantern slide plates depicting winter landscapes to the Internationale Fotografie Tentoonstelling (‘International Photography Exhibition’), which is held from 8 to 22 September in the ‘Militiezaal’ (‘Militia Hall’) in Amsterdam, is judged as exceptionally well done by J. van Geuns, the critic of the Tijdschrift der Photographie (‘Magazine of Photography’).

Ca. 1898–1909

During this period, Frans Huijsser is intensively involved in the running of the family company, E&A Scheer, together with his brother Johan. In 1898, Johan becomes the company’s director and Frans works as a business partner. In about 1909, Frans Huijsser leaves the family business for various reasons, including an alcohol problem. In all likelihood, he moves to Germany.

1910

On 8 June, the Huijsser brothers’ mother, Wilhelmina E.M. Huijsser-Gompertz, dies.

1912

In May, landscape shots taken by Frans Huijsser in the ‘Fore-Eifel’ region in Germany are published in the magazine Buiten. Geïllustreerd weekblad aan het buitenleven gewijd (‘Outdoors. Illustrated Weekly Devoted to the Outdoor Life’).

1928

Frans Huijsser dies on 19 June in Mershauzen, near Freiburg (Germany).