Mrs. Luud van der Linden from Vlaardingen approached us with a question: would we be interested in preserving her father’s personal letters? These letters were written to her mother during the final months of the Second World War, first from a camp in Bremen and later from Assen in the Netherlands.

After the liberation, he was unable to return directly to his family in South Holland, as the region had not yet been fully liberated. As a result, he spent some time in a repatriation barracks in Assen, from where he continued to write letters to his wife.

This donation once again highlights the importance of preserving personal stories and memories from the war years and passing them on to future generations. Documents like these bring history to life and help us understand the impact that war had on ordinary people and their families.

What makes this donation even more special is that Mrs. Van der Linden’s late sister carefully transcribed all of the letters many years ago. Thanks to her efforts, the fragile original documents no longer need to be handled frequently, helping to ensure their preservation for future generations.

Personal testimonies such as these give history a human face. They remind us that behind every historical event are real people with their own stories, concerns, hopes, and longing for home.

This is exactly why we are so passionate about the work of Erfenis 40-45.

Lest We Forget.