Melle painter | aquarellist | artist
1908 Melle Johannes Oldeboerrigter is born on 27 May in Amsterdam (Wittenburg).
1922

Learns typesetting at the graphic school in Amsterdam. Attends drawing and lithography classes in the evenings.
Illustrations in De Moker [an incendiary magazine for young workers].

1925 Employed at different printing works.
1926 Refuses to serve in the military; is later rejected.
Meets dancer Marth Bruyn and later moves in with her.
1930 Typesetter at the Arbeiderspers.
Produces drawings and paints watercolours in his spare time. Draws for political rags and illustrates books and jackets.
1934 Moves in with Marth at 62 Amsteldijk. The couple does not marry on principle.
1938 Starts to paint.
1940 - '45 Continues working for the Arbeiderspers; supplies type for the underground press, such as De Vonk.
Moves in with Puck van Hilst at 90 Stadhouderskade in 1944 but keeps workshop at Amsteldijk.
1945 Quits job at the Arbeiderspers to devote all his time to art, draws under his pseudonym Frits for De Vlam.
1953 Moves to 26 Weteringschans. Starts teaching typesetting and typography at the Kunstnijverheidschool (now the Rietveld Academie) in Amsterdam.
1955 Marries Puck.
1958 Sensational debate about the analysis of Melle's work by psychiatrist C. van Emde Boas.
1961 Turns down an award from the Stichting Kunstenaarsverzet [Foundation of artists' resistance], because one of the jurors had been a member of the Kultuurkamer [formed by the Nazis for Dutch artists during World War II].
1967 Receives the Keerkring Seal.
At the Gerrit Rietveld art academy painting instruction is added to his duties.
1968 Companion of the Order of Orange Nassau
1976 Dies of a heart attack on 24 May. Buried at the Oosterbegraafplaats in Amsterdam.