07 Aug Den Dolder, Vakantiehuis C.I. Weeshuis
Picture: courtesy of Historische Vereniging Den Dolder
Address: Baarnscheweg 58, den Dolder
In 1911 the Orphanage in Utrecht bought the house to be used as a vacation home for its pupils.
The first refugee children arrived here on November 22nd, 1938. They had arrived in the Netherlands on November 15th, 1938 and were first housed in the “Burgerweeshuis” in Naarden. In the summer of 1939 the children in Utrecht and those in den Dolder exchanged places.
The last refugee children left den Dolder in November 1939.
The pupils of the nearby “Werkplaats”, a school founded by Kees Boeke had come up with the idea of organizing a weekly collection for the refugee children. The idea was to use this money for the rent of a villa to be used as an extra school building, where the refugee children then could receive schooling. (20)
But the government did not think it was good idea as they suspected Kees Boeke of being a communist. Joop Westerweel, who was to become the leader of an underground organization during the war, was teaching at the school as well.
The house was torn down in the late 1960’s, a house in the same style was rebuilt on the spot, now housing a doctor’s practice.
Noam Corb discovered that the Wiener Library has some pictures of the group of children arriving and having their first meal in Naarden in November 1938. Noam recognises Hans Katz in these pictures. Thank you, Noam!
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20. Letter from the head of refugee camp Den Dolder to the Ministery of Interior Affairs, January 23, 1939, NL-HaNA, Zorg voor de vluchtelingen uit Duitsland, 1938-1942, 2.04.58, inv. nr. 98