Editing Merginus Schroeter (section)

== 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.<ref name="ferdinand-personal"/>

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.<ref name="ferdinand-death"/>