the Netherlands

  • On February 25, 1941, the Dutch decided that enough was enough. No longer would they stand idly by to see the treatment of their Jewish neighbors. The first 8 months of the Nazi occupation did not see that much change to the Dutch. The changes were all gradual. However, there were increased tensions. The WA(Weerbaarheidsafdeling-defense…

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  • February Raids Amsterdam

    On 19 February 1941, the German Grüne Polizei stormed into the Koco ice cream salon in the Van Woustraat. In the fight that ensued, several police officers were wounded. The Nazi authorities did not put up with the attack on their police officers. To end the unrest, they decided to hold a raid the weekend…

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  • The Murder of a Family

    In Auschwitz’ shadow, where darkness lay deep,A mother once cradled her children to sleep.Her son, just ten, with bright, curious eyes,Her daughter, eleven, under grey, smokeless skies. They walked hand in hand on a road cold and grim,A path carved in silence, devoid of a hymn.The mother, so gentle, whispered soft prayers,But the heavens were…

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  • The Fear

    World War II officially ended in 1945, but for many who lived through it, the war never truly ended. The fear it instilled often turned into paranoia and secrecy, rippling across generations and affecting even those born decades later. This is the story of my connection to World War II. Both my parents were born…

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  • Before delving into the story of Adriana Valkenburg, it’s important to understand the context of prostitution in the Netherlands. While prostitution has historically been tolerated in the country, it was not officially recognized as a legal profession until 1988. In the Netherlands, prostitution is legal and regulated, with sex work recognized as a legitimate profession.…

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  • There are very few positive Holocaust stories—but this is one of them. When Abel and Thea Herzberg return from Germany after the Second World War, they only have two things with them: a biscuit tin in which they kept meagre leftovers of food in recent months and the diary that Abel kept about the period…

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  • The Dutch comedy duo Snip en Snap, consisting of Willy Walden and Piet Muijselaar, became one of the most iconic entertainment acts in the Netherlands during the mid-20th century. Their vaudeville-style performances, rich in humor, music, and satire, were particularly significant during World War II. In a time of immense hardship and oppression, Snip en…

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  • Someone looked at this beautiful smiley face and decided he had to die. In a land where shadows silently creep,A small boy’s dreams are laid to sleep.Four tender years, too soon erased,In Auschwitz’s grip, his spirit faced. Eyes of wonder, wide and bright,Shining stars in the darkest night.A heart so pure, a soul so new,Innocence…

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  • Anne Frank’s Age Group

    Anne Frank was born on 12 June 1929. As we all know her story through her diary, I will not go into Anne’s story, but instead, I will look at a few other children who were also born on that day and who, like Anne, were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Levy Spanjer…

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  • This is a bit of forgotten World War II history. I only found out about this today. From 11 May 1940, the Dutch military received support from French troops, who advanced to Zeeland by sea and via Belgium. Many thousands of Moroccan soldiers fought against the Germans in the French army. About 30,000 of them…

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