Hendrika Hermana Harmsen

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Willem Harmsen
Moeder: Antonia Agterdenbos
Geboren: 6 Feb 1909 Alblasserdam
Overleden: 4 Dec 1990
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Hilgen
First Name: Hendrika Hermana
Maiden Name: Harmsen
Date of Birth: 06/02/1909
Date of death: 04/12/1990
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Place during the war: Ter Apel, Groningen, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Ter Apel, Groningen, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/2808)
In 1942, ten-year-old Selma van Velzen (later Soeters) was forced to leave her home and was subsequently hidden in 37 places around the country. For her own safety the families did not tell her their names and she did not tell them hers, and after short periods she would leave them. In July 1944, when she was almost 12 years old, she was taken to Mrs. Boer in the village of Ter Apel, near the German border. After two weeks, she was again sent to a specific meeting place, a shop window, as was usual, to wait for the next set of foster parents to get her. This time it was Roelof and Hendrika Hilgen, who never asked for any payment and risked their lives to hide her until the liberation. The Hilgens became Selma's guardians because her parents and most of her family perished during the war. She stayed with them until she got married in 1958.
On January 12, 1984, Yad Vashem recognized Roelof Hilgen and his wife, Hendrika Hilgen-Harmsen, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Roelof Hilgen geb. 29 Nov 1907 overl. 25 Aug 1987
Huwelijk: 17 Apr 1930 Eindhoven