On Friday, Whit came to visit me in Holland. The beauty of his visit was the near-impossibility for anyone here to correctly spell or say his name. "With" and I had a lot of fun!
After eating brunch and having an amazing cappuchino at Palais du Pain Lunchroom and Croissanterie, we spent most of the day exploring Haarlem, the quaint city where Van Luyken is located. On the recommendation of Glen Jackson and Caroline Duffy, we made our first stop the Corrie ten Boom Museum, just one block from the Grote Markt (market square).
After eating brunch and having an amazing cappuchino at Palais du Pain Lunchroom and Croissanterie, we spent most of the day exploring Haarlem, the quaint city where Van Luyken is located. On the recommendation of Glen Jackson and Caroline Duffy, we made our first stop the Corrie ten Boom Museum, just one block from the Grote Markt (market square).
The Ten Booms were a family of Dutch clock and watchmakers who hid Jews in their home during World War II.
As you may be able to tell from the picture, the hiding place itself is very tiny. Every day, Corrie ten Boom would drill the Jews to make sure they could quickly get to the hiding place from wherever they were in the house, should the Nazis raid the home. The Jews went from several minutes to under 70 seconds! Corrie and her sister also practiced being interrogated, just so they could withstand any Nazi efforts if the house was raided.
A pulley system in the closet is how the Jews accessed the hiding place.
Now, you may think it's cute to see little boys going in and out of the hiding place. Let me assure you - it was not. Whit and I were having a really hard time dealing with the fact that the only other people accompanying us on the museum tour were inconsiderate, rude AMERICANS who did not encourage their children to behave in any way.
Here I am, emerging from the hiding place.
Here Whit musters a smile for me even though we are both secretly wanting to clock those American kids (and their unbelievably lame mother) and leave them shut up in the hiding place.
On Feb. 28, 1944, the family was betrayed and the Gestapo raided the house. Six family members were arrested; however, the Nazis did not discover the four Jews and two members of the Resistance -- even after staying there for several days. They finally left, convinced no Jews were hiding there. As practiced, the Jews hiding in the small space in the ten Boom's wall were then able to escape out of this balcony and flee through the rooftops of Haarlem.
They constructed a hiding place for the Jews in the upstairs of their home. Most people in Haarlem knew of their activities, but because they were such kind people, everyone turned a blind eye.
As you may be able to tell from the picture, the hiding place itself is very tiny. Every day, Corrie ten Boom would drill the Jews to make sure they could quickly get to the hiding place from wherever they were in the house, should the Nazis raid the home. The Jews went from several minutes to under 70 seconds! Corrie and her sister also practiced being interrogated, just so they could withstand any Nazi efforts if the house was raided.
A pulley system in the closet is how the Jews accessed the hiding place.
Now, you may think it's cute to see little boys going in and out of the hiding place. Let me assure you - it was not. Whit and I were having a really hard time dealing with the fact that the only other people accompanying us on the museum tour were inconsiderate, rude AMERICANS who did not encourage their children to behave in any way.
Here I am, emerging from the hiding place.
Here Whit musters a smile for me even though we are both secretly wanting to clock those American kids (and their unbelievably lame mother) and leave them shut up in the hiding place.
On Feb. 28, 1944, the family was betrayed and the Gestapo raided the house. Six family members were arrested; however, the Nazis did not discover the four Jews and two members of the Resistance -- even after staying there for several days. They finally left, convinced no Jews were hiding there. As practiced, the Jews hiding in the small space in the ten Boom's wall were then able to escape out of this balcony and flee through the rooftops of Haarlem.
Whit fleeing (from the Americans inside).
Corrie ten Boom was taken to - and survived - Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. After the war ended, she spent the rest of her life spreading Christian gospel around the world. On April 15, 1983 (her 91st birthday), Corrie passed away. She was buried in Santa Ana, California.
Aside from the other Americans, visiting the museum was a lovely and uplifting experience.
Corrie ten Boom was taken to - and survived - Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. After the war ended, she spent the rest of her life spreading Christian gospel around the world. On April 15, 1983 (her 91st birthday), Corrie passed away. She was buried in Santa Ana, California.
Aside from the other Americans, visiting the museum was a lovely and uplifting experience.
After the museum, I took Whit into the square so he could try some poffertjes (and so I could have some more). Another great day in Holland!
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