Resistance MuseumImage of the exhibition that opens today
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 10:12
Active in the resistance against the Nazis during the Second World War, damaged afterwards and sometimes in need of help. After the war, resistance members and their loved ones could turn to a specially established foundation. Eighty years later, there is an exhibition about this 1940-1945 Foundation, which itself has a turbulent history, in the Resistance Museum Amsterdam.
Most resistance members have now died, but some of their children are still active at the foundation. Josephine Korsten-Beelen (1948) is one of them. During the war, her father lived in a village near Weert, close to the Belgian border, from where he smuggled Jews, resistance members and Allied pilots from the Netherlands. “My father usually took people across the border on the back of a bicycle. They were met there and taken on from there.”
This Mathieu Beelen was imprisoned in Haaren, Scheveningen and Utrecht. After the war, he suffered greatly mentally from his war experiences, his daughter says. “He suffered quite a lot from nightmares and was always very preoccupied with them. He started a carpentry company shortly after the war, but stopped prematurely because it was no longer possible.”
Family Korsten-BeelenMathieu Beelen with his wife (l) and daughter Josephine (r), 1991
In the early 1970s, Beelen received an ‘extraordinary pension’, which was established by the government for resistance members with permanent health damage, and later also for persecution and civilian victims. The 1940-1945 Foundation was given the legal task to investigate whether applicants were entitled to this and to advise the ‘extraordinary pension council’ on allocation.
Eighty years later, Beelen’s daughter is still active for this foundation. “We visit people, attend funerals, and I run a society with the daughter of another resistance fighter. We still meet there every month with six people.”
Images of these types of meetings appear in the exhibition that opens today. It also shows that two Molotov cocktails had been thrown into the head office, according to the museum, most likely by someone whose benefits had been rejected.
- National Archives Former resistance members in recovery homes of the 1940-1945 Foundation, after the Second World War
- National Archives Former resistance members in recovery homes of the 1940-1945 Foundation, after the Second World War
- National Archives Former resistance members in recovery homes of the 1940-1945 Foundation, after the Second World War
- National Archives Former resistance members in recovery homes of the 1940-1945 Foundation, after the Second World War
We also look at periods in which there were intense discussions within and about the foundation. For example, during the Cold War there was a lot of discussion about dealing with communist former resistance members. Communists were then ‘suspect’, for example, civil servants could no longer be members of the communist party. This sparked a discussion at the foundation about what to do with communists.
The department in Groningen rejected communists and since 1951 there has not been a communist in the main board. However, the foundation wanted to remain there for everyone who had opposed Nazi Germany, communist or not.
“Communists were increasingly seen as the enemy,” says historian Onno Sinke, who co-wrote a book about the foundation and now works at the Netherlands Institute for Military History. “But the main board wanted to continue to care for people who had become victims because of their resistance, as was agreed at the time of its establishment, and to continue to do so regardless of the political background.”
Taking care of each other
Even today, people still come to the foundation, last year there were fifteen applications for benefits or pensions and twenty additional applications from people who were already clients. “The promise has been ‘we take care of you and yours’ for eighty years. And we will continue this as long as necessary,” says general secretary Josée Netten.
Netten also hopes that the foundation can motivate others. “Every society needs solidarity. We hope that people, also through this exhibition, see what others have done for each other and be inspired by this.”
‘Confidential files sent to the security service’
wrote earlier this year Het Parool that the foundation “structurally and until at least the 1980s” passed on confidential files of resistance members and camp survivors who had submitted an application to the Internal Security Service (BVD). “They used the information to map networks of left-wing resistance fighters.”
Following this publication, the foundation says it will conduct an independent investigation. This will start later this year, says the general secretary of the 1940-1945 Foundation.
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Resistance Museum Exhibition: A Cheeky Look Back
Well, gather around, folks! The Resistance Museum Amsterdam has just flung open its doors to a new exhibition about the 1940-1945 Foundation, and trust me, it’s not just your average museum exhibit—you won’t find a single dusty dinosaur skull here. Instead, we’re diving into the turbulent waters of history, where the fish are named ‘resistance fighters’ and ‘personal trauma’—I mean, talk about a catch and release program!
The Backbone of Resistance
It turns out, after putting up with Nazi nonsense during World War II, these brave individuals didn’t just walk away with a medal and a thank-you card. Oh no. They needed a support system, and thus the foundation was born. Fast forward eighty years, and what do we have? An exhibition showcasing the not-so-glamorous legacy of resistance, complete with tales of survival, courage, and the occasional Molotov cocktail thrown into the mix—seriously, the head office had things thrown at it like it was hosting a raucous party!
The Heartwarming Story of Josephine Korsten-Beelen
At the heart of this exhibition is Josephine Korsten-Beelen, a real-life superhero whose dad was out there smuggling Jews and resistance members like it was the hottest new underground gig. Picture this: “Oh, just hopping on my bicycle with a couple of refugees in the back, no biggie.” That’s daring, folks! Not only did her father, Mathieu Beelen, face imprisonment, but he also had the kind of psychological scars that required more than just a therapist and a box of tissues.
Imagine trying to run a carpentry business while haunted by nightmares of the war—makes you appreciate your daily office drama, doesn’t it?
Pensions and Politics
Come the 1970s, Mathieu scored himself one of those ‘extraordinary pensions.’ Because what’s more ‘extraordinary’ than being a resistance fighter grappling with PTSD? And lovely Josephine is keeping the spirit alive today; she’s not just content staring at dusty memorabilia. No, she’s out there mingling with fellow resistance offspring, doling out help and attending funerals—because nothing screams ‘solidarity’ quite like a group of people who once risked their lives and now meet monthly like a book club, discussing the good ol’ days.
Politics and Pandemonium
Now, let’s talk drama—because what’s history without a little bit of controversy? Picture the Cold War shaking things up as the foundation wrestles with its past. Communists were the bad guys! But wait, hold on—a bit of a pickle for a foundation that wanted to embrace everyone who opposed the Nazis, no matter their political leanings. It’s like being at a family reunion where half the clan refuses to talk to the other half just because of a little ideological squabble.
The historians chime in, pointing out that the foundation’s goal was to take care of everyone who had been victimized by their opposition to tyranny. And bless their hearts, they were sticking to their mission like glue, because in the land of milk and honey, there’s always room for a few more victims of history.
Lasting Legacies and Future Inspirations
Fast-forward to today, and the foundation still stands as a beacon of hope—last year alone saw a flurry of applications from those needing support or pensions. Everyone’s motto: “We take care of you and yours!” Simple, effective, and refreshingly human. And who can argue with that? Josée Netten, the secretary, hopes this exhibition shines a light on the importance of solidarity. Because, let’s face it, if history has taught us anything, it’s that teamwork really does make the dream work—especially when facing down authoritarian regimes.
A Little Note of Controversy
But before we all get starry-eyed, it’s worth a cheeky mention that this foundation has been sitting on some questionable practices, like passing confidential information to security services—yikes! Talk about a plot twist! It seems they were more interested in keeping the state happy than protecting their own members. An independent investigation is on the horizon, and we’ll be waiting with popcorn for the dramatic revelations!
In conclusion, this exhibition at the Resistance Museum is not just about the past; it’s a rallying cry for solidarity in the face of adversity. So head on down, bring your friends, and take a look at the fascinating—albeit cheeky—narratives of those who resisted tyranny in all its forms!
