Dirk den Hollander
| Geslacht: | Man | |
| Vader: | Cornelis den Hollander | |
| Moeder: | Pietertje Elizabeth Bruinsel | |
| Geboren: | 13 MRT 1925 | Dirksland |
| Religie: | Ned. Hervormd | |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Hollander den First Name: Dirk Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Male Place during the war: Den Haag, Zuidholland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Den Haag, Zuidholland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/9744) Cornelis and Pietertje den Hollander lived in The Hague (prov. South Holland) with their son Dirk. They were originally farmers in the area, but had moved to the city to start a wholesale vegetable business. They lived in a rather large home next to their business. Dirk, seventeen, had a Jewish friend, twenty year-old Herman Norden, also from The Hague, who turned to him for help in July 1942 when he received his summons to report for "work in the East". After Dirk consulted with his parents, it was decided that not only Herman, but also his parents, Karel and Rachel Norden, as well as his older brother Jacob could come and stay with them. When the den Hollanders heard that other family members and friends of the Norden family were in need of a hiding place, they too found refuge with them. Thus, over the next few months the following Jews arrived: 16-year-old cousin Nathan Bino, his parents Isaac and Sarah Bino (née Norden), family friends, Harry and Mietje Poons, her mother Rieka Polak and stepson Harry Koenraad as well as Eva van Geldere-van der Stam and Selma van Geldere. All in all, 13 Jews were now in hiding at the den Hollanders premises. For emergencies, a passage way was made to an adjacent silo. The Jews in hiding participated in their expenses for as long as they could. An underground cell brought food stamps. The Hollanders bought food at various stores, so as not to arouse suspicion regarding the large amounts needed to feed one and all. Everyone shared in preparing food and managed wonderfully well. In September 1944 the police raided the building, looking for unreported agricultural items. Even though they saw a large number of beds in the building, no questions were asked. All those in hiding had managed to escape, and returned once the police had left. In January 1945, again the house was raided after a tipthat Jews were in hiding there. The building was surrounded, and all Jews, as well as Cornelis, the only den Hollander at home at the time, were arrested. The Jews were taken to the Westerbork transit camp. At that time, Jews were no longer being transported to the extermination camps, and so they were liberated in the camp in May 1945. Cornelis was taken to the infamous Scheveningen prison and from there to Germany. He managed to jump off the train and returned home. Immediately, all three den Hollanders went into hiding until the liberation. All of the Jews who had been in hiding with the den Hollanders kept in close contact with them after the war. On July 7, 2002, Yad Vashem recognized Cornelis den Hollander and Pietertje Hollander den-Bruinsel as well as their son Dirk den Hollander, as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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