Merginus Schroeter

Merginus Schroeter
Born	(1939-04-25) 25 April 1939 Rotterdam, Netherlands
Other names	Dr. Schroeter Kraakbeen Knakkie
Education	Universiteit van Vriendendam
Occupation	Archaeologist
Era	Middenvader Era Vriend Era
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Political party	Bloedmergen
Criminal status	Released
Spouse	Tineke van Dijk-Schroeter
Children	Paul Ribbenmerg Schroeter Margaretha Wervelmerg Schroeter Petrus Schedelmerg Schroeter
Parents	Ferdinand Schroeter (father) Johanna Berendsen (mother)
Family	Schroeter family
Criminal penalty	45 years' imprisonment

Merginus Schroeter (born 25 April 1939) is a Dutch archaeologist and convicted coup plotter who organised an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Dutch government in 1985. A member of the far-right Bloedmergen party, he received a 45-year prison sentence but was released after approximately two and a half years. He also founded Merg-Romeo, a vehicle manufacturer that used human bones in chassis construction.

Early life

Schroeter was born in Rotterdam on 25 April 1939, the only child of Ferdinand Schroeter and Johanna Berendsen. He grew up at the family's farmhouse in Stolwijk, where his father lived while managing Schroeter Traktoren. Merginus became interested in archaeology during his youth and later studied at the Universiteit van Vriendendam. Ferdinand paid for his education and didn't expect him to enter the family business.

The dispute over Schroeter Traktoren affected the family throughout the 1950s. Merginus sometimes accompanied his father during the conflict and travelled with him to the second Middenvader Commissie in 1959, although he remained outside the negotiations. The meeting ended without an agreement between the main Schroeter faction and the rival Schroeters-West group.

On 5 July 1959, Ferdinand and Johanna were shot dead at their farmhouse in Stolwijk. Merginus had arranged to visit them the following morning and discovered their bodies when he arrived on 6 July. Police investigated people associated with the Schroeters-West faction but couldn't identify the attackers. No one was charged with the killings.

Career

Schroeter studied archaeology at the Universiteit van Vriendendam and concentrated on archaeological sites in the Netherlands. He took a particular interest in human skeletal remains and regularly visited cemeteries to examine old graves.

He also advocated using human bones as manufacturing materials. Schroeter ran the Bloedmerg Onderzoeksinstituut, which sought to legalise the production of goods and weapons from human bones. His proposals drew criticism because they called for human remains to be used in industrial manufacturing.

In 1985, Schroeter founded Merg-Romeo, a vehicle company that manufactured chassis using human bones. He had criticised Schroeter Romeo, the manufacturer established by other members of the Schroeter family, for producing vehicles he considered unworthy of the Alfa Romeo and Fiat names.

Political activity

Schroeter was a member of Bloedmergen, a far-right Dutch political party that sought to replace the government with an authoritarian regime.

In 1985, he organised a coup plot with other Bloedmergen members. They planned to seize government buildings while interrupting communications to prevent the authorities from coordinating a response. The conspirators also sought support from sympathisers in the Dutch armed forces and police.

Dutch intelligence agencies discovered the plan before the takeover began. On the night of the planned operation, police arrested Schroeter and other senior Bloedmergen members. The authorities stopped the conspiracy before the group could seize any government buildings.

Schroeter was convicted for his part in the plot and sentenced to 45 years' imprisonment. He was released after serving approximately two and a half years, with his early release attributed to good behaviour.

Personal life

Schroeter is married to Tineke van Dijk-Schroeter. Their three children are Paul Ribbenmerg Schroeter, Margaretha Wervelmerg Schroeter and Petrus Schedelmerg Schroeter.

He lives in Nijmegen and owns another home in Bariloche, Argentina. His interest in automobiles extends to collecting Alfa Romeo vehicles. He has owned a 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA and a 1978 Alfasud, as well as a 2015 MiTo.

In 2015, Schroeter was arrested in Rotterdam for carrying a concealed M1911 pistol. The arrest did not result in a conviction.

See also

• Schroeter family
• Ferdinand Schroeter
• Middenvader Commissie
• Bloedmergen
• Merg-Romeo