2 October 2015 - Haarlem and Corrie ten Boom Museum

I was keen to go to Haarlem to see Corrie ten Boom's house and explore the historic town.  As I often comment, this cool but sunny weather is perfect for walking and touring.  16 C and clear skies - no complaints!

Canal scene Haarlem

We parked a couple of kms from the old town and walked into the bit we wanted to see.  The housing estates, industrial zone and county jail weren't very interesting but once we crossed the river, it was much more scenic.

Easy to miss entrance to the Almsgarden

Almsgarden

 Per chance, a walking tour group was in front of us and wandered into the old almshouse garden.  We followed to find a delightful little spot which is still used as a residential care area.  For centuries the little houses around the garden were used to house elderly women. 

Very old!!

 Haarlem was much larger than I thought and we could have spent quite some time there as there are a number of museums and plenty of sights to see.  The kids were eager to eat and we spotted a kroket shop and ate some for lunch.  Krokets are a crispy fried sort of mince-gravy filled morsel possibly inspired by a spring roll long ago!  They are more-ish to say the least but positively wicked!

A falconer would have lived here!

Through the Grootemarkt to Koningstraat and then we followed the signs to the Corrie ten Boom Museum, behind the Ten Boom Jewellers, the family business.  We were a tad late for the 1330 hrs English tour but were welcomed in.  Only 20 people at a time can go on the tour and it is free! 

 

The Hiding Place

The guide gave a good background to the Ten Boom family who had a heart for the Jews, even before WWII.  They had at least 80 people working with them in the Resistance Movement and helped and hid many Jews and other resistance workers at great personal risk.  They knew one of their neighbours was working with the German Army (NSB) and had to be so careful.

Tim in the Hiding Place

 They hid 6 people at a time and had consulted an architect who was known to be helpful in creating hiding places that were difficult to detect.  The hiding place which was hidden so well that the 6 people hiding there when the house was raided, and when Corrie, her sister, Betsie and their father, Oscar were arrested, escaped notice.  Four of those who were hiding survived undetected but two were later discovered and executed although they escaped successfully from the Ten Boom's house.

The entrance/exit to the Hiding Place was in the base of a cupboard

To build the hiding place, which is about the size of a large wardrobe, family and supporters carried bricks and other materials secretly wrapped in newspapers and in food parcels.  It was a well planned project.  Even the floorboards were cut at the start of the false wall so no one suspected the wooden floor continued beyond that spot.  They had to be very clever to outsmart the determined Nazis.

Hiding spot for ration books

 The Ten Boom family were very organised and canny in their hiding of people and would hold practice raids to make the real raids efficient.  All the time, their work in the family jewellery business continued and provided a shop front and easy access for anyone who wanted help.

Lounge room at the Ten Boom's house

 Corrie, Betsie and their father were arrested in February 1944.  Their father died of pneumonia 10 days later at the age of 84 whereas the women were taken to Ravenbruck.  Betsie died in Ravensbruck but Corrie lived to tell their tale of faith and kindness to many as documented in her book: "The Hiding Place" and other books.  She helped set up homes for those traumatised by war and travelled extensively talking about forgiveness and even forgiving her former torturer.  She died in 1983 on her 91 st birthday.

Outside - small unassuming street front

Front door - we had to ring the bell.

Cheeky - charging 30 cents for toilets at Maccas

Town square

 After our interesting visit there we walked through the town square passed the Town Hall where there were many weddings.  Couples get married at the Town Hall and can choose to have church blessings later.  Being such a nice sunny day, it seemed like many had chosen this afternoon as their day!

  

Lovely !

Another old 17 th century building

A big grin and a big clog

More clogs!

They even fitted Tim!

Town square buildings

More Town Square buildings

This one was skinny with lovely old glass

Walking back

No town is complete without a windmill!!

After we arrived home, Karl and I decided that such a still sunny evening was an opportunity not to be missed so we had a lovely bike ride by the river before dinner.  I would never tire of this beautiful scenery.