Holland - Day 11

During the WWII in Aalten there were more refugees
in hiding than actual residents!  

Holland - Day 11 Today we visited Louise's Uncle and Aunty in Lichtenvoorde, who took us to the Onderduik Museum (the 'Going into Hiding' Museum) in Aalten which was nearby.
This Museum showed the extent to which people hid Jewish refugees during world war 2, often at times at their own peril. Louise's grandparents also hid a Jewish woman during the war so it was a good to hear of their efforts and the dangers involved and God's protecting hand through out it all.

Secret hiding places.
The residents were very innovative in creating hiding spaces, not only for refugees but also for secret printing presses, radios and anything else that needed to be hidden from the Nazi.Being a strong protestant town they felt compelled to obey the command from Isaiah 16 verse 3,"Hide the fugitives, do not betray the refugees" and they did so with great courage.

A typewriter and printing press the underground used.

The Gestapo commandant had his office in the same house where refugees were being hidden.

An innovative way to power the lighting when there was no electricity, the faster you cycled the brighter the lights! A reading lamp was connected to the bike handlebars.

A jacket worn by a Jewish man, 

wearing the 'Jood' star was mandatory.

We also visited the very nearby village of Bredevoort and the farm where Louise's mum spent her childhood years. 

This house in Bredevoort dates back to 1234, you can tell by the exposed beams and it is still lived in today.Imagine the stories it could tell if it could speak!

This is the house where Louise's Mum spent her formative years. Externally not much had changed but the interior has been completely renovated, thankfully the tiles that Mum had fond memories off had been retained.