In the past, I had written a few posts about Kasteel (castle) Hoensbroek in the Netherlands and its young inhabitants. However, the photographs are so heartwarming that I thought it would be nice to do one more post.
The photos were taken on 2 March 1945. Dutch children entertained GIs in the famous castle. The toddlers were entertaining GIs on the grounds of Hoensbroek Castle. The children were dressed in national costumes and danced a Dutch folk dance.
At the end of 1942, 130 children from an orphanage were housed and were entrusted to the care of the sisters of the Poor Child Jesus. They had to leave their home in Velsen because it was in the shelter of the German anti-aircraft guns. “The Americans were crazy about our children,” said Sister Maire Pascale from Warmond.
The children, mostly around three years old, expressed their appreciation for the kindness of the American soldiers stationed nearby by entertaining them with games and dances in national costumes.
The photos were taken shortly after the battle of the Bulge, which would have made Kasteel Hoensbroek an oasis of peace.
Source
History of Sorts 
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