Jan Machiel Reyskens
- Full name: Jan Machiel Reyskens
- Lifespan: (11 May 1878 – 7 January 1990)
- Age: 111 years, 241 days
- Birthplace: Genk, Limburg, Belgium
- Last residence: Dordrecht, South Holland, Netherlands
- Application date: N/A
- Validation date: 02.12.2000
- Validation source: Guinness World Records
Biography
Reyskens was born in Genk, Limburg, Belgium on 11 May 1878. After both of Reyskens’ parents died when he was just a child, he went to live with a stepfather for the remaining years of his childhood. In 1897, Reyskens did military service. Soon afterwards, he left Genk and travelled gradually through Belgium, living briefly in Bilzen, Herstal, Charleroi and Brussels. Reyskens went on foot to the Netherlands, and settled in Eindhoven, where he married and had two children. In 1917, he settled his family in Dordrecht, where he was to live for the rest of his life. Reyskens worked in the local plastics factory until 1947, when he retired at the age of 69. By this time, both his children had emigrated to Australia and his wife died in 1964. Reyskens continued to live alone until 1977, when a heart attack forced him to move into Huize Avondzon, a retirement home of the Salvation Army. Reyskens remained mentally alert and in fairly good physical shape until a week before his death over 12 years later, moving freely with the use of a cane.
On 12 January 1987, he became the oldest living man in the Netherlands, following the death of Albert Geerlings. On 8 December 1987, he became the oldest living person in the Netherlands, following the death of Christina van Druten-Hoogakker. On 11 May 1988, he celebrated his 110th birthday, becoming a supercentenarian.
On 24 September 1988, he became the oldest man ever to live in the Netherlands, surpassing the long standing record of Geert Adriaans Boomgaard, who had held this record for more than 80 years. On 11 May 1989, he turned 111, as the second person (and the first man) in history of the Netherlands.
At the time of his death, Reyskens was the second-oldest man in the world behind John Evans from UK. He remains the oldest Belgian-born man ever and the oldest man ever to die in the Netherlands. In addition, he was the longevity recordholder, the oldest person who ever lived in the Netherlands, having surpassed the final age of Christina van Druten-Hoogakker, the title he held for consecutive 10 years, until his achievement was surpassed by Catharina van Dam-Groeneveld, also of South Holland province.
Jan Machiel Reyskens died in Dordrecht, South Holland, Netherlands on 7 January 1990 at age 111 years, 241 days.
Longevity Recognition
- Oldest living man in the Netherlands (12.01.1987 – 07.01.1990)
- Oldest living person in the Netherlands (08.12.1987 – 07.01.1990)
- Male longevity Recordholder of the Netherlands (24.09.1988 – present)
- Longevity Recordholder of the Netherlands (1989 – 1999)
- Longevity Recordholder of South Holland Province (1988 – 1999)
Validation
The case of Jan Machiel Reyskens was meticulously examined and verified by Guinness World Records, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) as of 2 December 2000.
Jan Machiel Reyskens as an older man.
Jan Machiel Reyskens at age 95.
Jan Machiel Reyskens at age 108.