Willem Heij
| Geslacht: | Man | |
| Vader: | Jan Heij | |
| Moeder: | Johanna Catharina de Graaff | |
| Geboren: | 1895 | Hillegom |
| Beroep: | bloembollenkweker | |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Hey First Name: Willem Date of Birth: 16/11/1894 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Religion: CALVINIST Gender: Male Place during the war: Hillegom, Zuidholland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Hillegom, Zuidholland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/10614) Willem and Maria Hey lived with their four young children in the town of Hillegom (prov. South Holland). The family was devout Calvinist (Gereformeerd). Early on in the occupation of the Netherlands, Willem and Maria became active in resistance activities against the German regime. When they heard of the deportations of the Jews to the East, they decided to act and hide Jews in their own home. A 15-year-old girl, Hetty de Haan, was welcomed into their home and stayed for some time. Then again, in April 1943, while Maria was pregnant with their fifth child, they opened their home for Harry Koopman, a one-year-old child from Amsterdam. His father, Alexander Koopman, who had landed a job with the Jewish Council (Joodsche Raad), had received a temporary exemption from reporting for work in the East for himself and his immediate family. However, with the termination of this exemption, in the spring of 1943, his wife Clara (née Witsenhuijzen) and their sons, Levi and Abraham, were caught at home and subsequently deported, while Alexander was out. Upon learning of the raid on his home, Alexander, instead of rushing home, ran to his youngest son, Harry, at his day-care center. He contacted a resistance worker in the student underground movement, ASG*, who took the child to Hillegom. Via local resistance contacts, Harry was taken in by Willem and Maria Hey. Harry grew up as yet one more child, just like all the other children in the Hey family. He joined them each Sunday at church. Even during the infamous Hungerwinter of 1944-1945, when there was hardly any food or electricity in the western parts of the country, the Heys kept Harry under their wings. He stayed until the liberation of the area in May 1945. Only Harrys father, Alexander, who was caught in France while attempting to flee to Switzerland, survived the camps and returned to the Netherlands. It was not until October 1945, that he was able to retrieve Harry, after he had found a place to live. Harry stayed in touch with his rescuers thereafter. On June 20, 2005, Yad Vashem recognized Willem Hey and Maria Hey-Schoonderbeek, as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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Gezin 1
| Huwelijkspartner: | Maria Elisabeth Schoonderbeek | geb. 1 Sept 1900 |
| Huwelijk: | 15 OKT 1924 | Hillegom |