Nov 15, 2024

I shopped this morning, using my Nederlands (Dutch). Of course the store owners responded in English after a couple of sentences, but I could mostly make myself understood. I bought kaas (cheese) for the following night and a rugzak (backpack) so I could carry more stuff on the plane (all those gifts I was given, really!). The store owners asked why I was in Enschede, since it was quickly apparent that I’m not a Nederlands speaker and this city isn’t typically a tourist destination. I explained, in broken Nederlands, that my family used to live here and we were visiting their places.

We had lunch with Evelien, whose grandfather and great-grandfather hid my family on a nearby farm. It was wonderful seeing her again in the short time we had together. What a legacy her family carries!

Next, we drove to the farm where my father, his mother, and his grandmother were hidden for 2 ½ years, in an attic above a cow barn that was infested with fleas and mice. We didn’t meet the current owners, just paused briefly to take a photo.

We capped off our day visiting the local Rijksmuseum. We were able to see the entire museum in one hour, which was good timing, as it closed just when we left.

Even though we had a couple of very meaningful activities, it felt like a light day. For me, it was less overflowing with emotion. I needed this break. I think my kids did, too.

Photo: The farm where my father, grandmother, and great-grandmother were hidden from 1942-1945. This photo was taken during our 2018 visit.

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