Bart was born Huibertus Johannes van Nie on October 6th, 1922 in Rijnsaterwoude, a small village in the Netherlands. He was the first-born child of Roberta van Scherpenzeel and Johannes van Nie. At the time of Bart’s birth, his father was a young minister serving the village church. The van Nie and van Scherpenzeel families had their home in Zeist; and Bart spent many of his childhood years living with family in Zeist while attending school in Utrecht. When it was time to go to University he chose the study of Classics and then Theology at the University of Groningen. His studies were interrupted by the second world war. In the spring of 1943, university students were required to sign an oath of loyalty to the occupying Nazi forces. Those who refused to sign were sent to labour camps in Germany. The only other alternative was to go into hiding. Bart was just 20 years of age at this time. Bart and his 18 year old sister Bep, who was also at the university, not only went into hiding but joined their father in an active cell of the Dutch Resistance. When the war was over, Bart’s father published a book entitled “Bericht voor Groote Jan” which told the story of the cell’s activities during the last year of the war. The Dutch Resistance suffered horrendous losses and persevered in the face of tremendous challenges. Everyone had a pseudonym, Bart was known as Klomp. He is described in the book as “de moedige Klomp,” - Klomp the brave one. He participated in many dangerous tasks, smuggling Jewish folk and crew members of downed allied aircraft to safe havens - and facilitating secret droppings of supplies, explosives and ammunition from allied aircraft at night into remote farmers’ fields.

After the war, Bart and Bep went back to Groningen to complete their studies. During this time Bart met Francina Klamer who was studying law; they were married on November 8th, 1948. In those days it was normal if not mandatory for a female partner to sacrifice her career in order to accompany her husband in a marriage relationship and raise children. It was also still nearly impossible for a woman to practise law. In any case, it must have been a great sacrifice for Ina to abandon her career ambitions; something we recognize today as a profound injustice.

Around the time of their marriage, Bart and Ina settled in Gieterveen, a small village just outside of Groningen where Bart served his first church congregation and the first three of their children were born.  Their fourth child was born in Koudum, a town in Friesland where Bart served his second pastoral charge.  While in Koudum, Bart and Ina started to dream about emigrating out of the Netherlands.  Eventually an opportunity arose in Canada, for Bart to work in a Dutch immigrant community in the Niagara peninsula where he became the pastor of a congregation sponsored by the Reformed Church in America.  The family settled in Stoney Creek where their fifth child was born. 

Dutch immigrant churches in Canada went into many directions as is evident today by the remarkable diversity of Reformed Church congregations and denominations in Canada.  Some of the more ecumenically minded congregations and certainly their clergy were absorbed into Canadian mainline churches, particularly in the Presbyterian and United Churches.  Bart, along with several colleagues soon found themselves in the United Church of Canada.

Bart spent the last 23 years of his ministry serving 4 United Church Pastoral Charges in Romney, Windsor, Case-Mount Hope and Lively. During his time in Windsor, Bart used his minister’s continuing education benefit to earn a Master’s Degree through Iona College.  His research focused on Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development in relation to Christian education and faith formation. Bart was well-liked by his congregations.  He understood the importance of pastoral care in the life and work of his congregations.

Upon their retirement, Ina and Bart settled in St. Luke’s Place, a United Church retirement centre in Cambridge.  Bart spent several years as a Voluntary Associate Minister at St. Luke’s United Church.  This was also a time for enjoying connections with grandchildren who were finding many fascinating things to do with their lives.  In 1998, Ina and Bart celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a wonderful gathering of family from various parts of Canada, France and the Netherlands.  The family came to be deeply grateful for this event, particularly because Ina would not live to see another anniversary.  She died in October of 1999 after a brief but devastating bout with cancer.

After Ina’s death, before too many more years went by, Bart got restless and looked for a more exciting place to live, landing in downtown Toronto where he spent the last two decades of his life.  Living just steps away from St. Andrew’s United Church he became active there, also continuing his vocation as a Voluntary Associate Minister.  Bart lived for more than 99 years.  He was very active physically throughout his life: a member of the Bruce Trail Association, an avid canoeist, and noon-hour swimmer at the YMCA for years on end.

In August of 2020, Bart’s dear sister Bep died in Amsterdam.  This was a blow for Bart; he and Bep had regular telephone conversations which gave both of them something to look forward to each week.   Bart seemed a bit less vivacious after Bep’s death but he stayed mentally bright and lucid until just before his 99th birthday when his health suddenly deteriorated and he was placed in palliative care.  Six weeks later he died.  A memorial service was held at Royal York Road United Church in Toronto on 28 November 2021.