Our colleague, dr. Hans de BOO, AIH, from the Netherlands, passed away on January 4 this year, aged almost 90.
He was a retired geriatrician in Groningen province. Hans de Boo has occupied since 1998 the chair number 30 of the Académie Internationale d’Héraldique.
In the Netherlands, Hans was particularly well-known as the author of countless articles on heraldry, which were published in renowned journals such as the Heraldisch Tijdschrift, Heraldicum Disputationes, and Gens Nostra. He also authored several books, including Heraldiek (1967), Familiewapens, kentekens van verwantschap (2008), and the brochure Familiewapens, oud en nieuw (1982).
From 2003 to 2015, Hans served as the editor-in-chief of the Heraldisch Tijdschrift. His fellow editors described him as a passionate and highly knowledgeable heraldist.
Hans de Boo played a key role as co-organizer of the 12th International Colloquium on Heraldry of the Académie Internationale d’Héraldique (AIH), held in Groningen in 2001. He was a member of the Advisory Board for Heraldry in the province of Groningen, which organized the colloquium. The event focused on “Regional Heraldry”, and Hans also served as editor of the book compiling the conference proceedings.
A defining aspect of Hans’s approach to heraldry was his deep appreciation and respect for its historical foundations and rules, combined with an openness to innovation within the field. He often encapsulated this perspective with his frequently repeated phrase, “It is living heraldry”. He observed and acknowledged certain modern developments, such as using new colours in heraldry, particularly in Anglo-Saxon countries, without dismissing them outright.
It is fair to say that Hans de Boo was undeniably one of the leading figures in the practice of heraldry in the Netherlands from the second half of the 20th century up to the present day. His contributions have left an indelible mark on the field, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of heraldists.
By testament, he bequeathed his heraldic collection of books and ex-libris to the library of the Dutch Heraldry Society (NGH).
R.I.P.
(Drawing by Piet Bultsma, heraldic artist of the High Council of Nobility in the Netherlands, printed on the obituary)
