Motherlode: A Mosaic of Dutch Wartime Experience

Title Page, Copyright Page

Motherlode Life Writing Series In the Life Writing Series, Wilfrid Laurier University Press publishes life writing and new life-writing criticism and theory in order to promote autobiographical accounts, diaries, letters, and testimonials written and/or told by women and men whose political, literary, or philosophical purposes are central to their lives. The Series features accounts written in English, or translated into English from French or the languages of the First Nations, or any of the languages of immigration to Canada. From its inception, Life Writing has aimed to foreground the stories of those who may never have imagined themselves as writers or as people with lives worthy of being (re)told. Its readership has expanded to include scholars , youth, and avid general readers both in Canada and abroad. The Series hopes to continue its work as a leading publisher of life writing of all kinds, as an imprint that aims for both broad representation and scholarly excellence, and as a tool for both historical and autobiographical research. As its mandate stipulates, the Series privileges those individuals and communities whose stories may not, under normal circumstances, find a welcoming home with a publisher. Life Writing also publishes original theoretical investigations about life writing, as long as they are not limited to one author or text. Series Editor Marlene Kadar Humanities Division, York University Manuscripts to be sent to Lisa Quinn, Acquisitions Editor Wilfrid Laurier University Press 75 University Avenue West Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5 Canada Motherlode A Mosaic of Dutch Wartime Experience Carolyne Van Der Meer Wilfrid Laurier University Press acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing program. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund for our publishing activities. Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Van Der Meer, Carolyne A., 1968–, author Motherlode : a mosaic of Dutch wartime experience / Carolyne Van Der Meer. (Life writing series) Issued in print and electronic formats. ISBN 978-1-77112-005-0 (pbk.).—ISBN 978-1-77112-006-7 (pdf).—ISBN 978-1-77112-007-4 (epub) 1. Van Der Meer, Carolyne A., 1968– —Family—Literary collections. 2. Netherlands— History—German occupation, 1940–1945—Literary collections. 3. World War, 1939–1945— Personal narratives, Dutch—Literary collections. I. Title. II. Series: Life writing series PS8643.A5265M68 2014 C818’.6 C2013-905894-X C2013-905895-8 Cover design by Sandra Friesen. Front-cover photo: The author’s mother’s childhood home (middle) in the village of De Krim, Overijssel, 1943. Text design by Sandra Friesen.© 2014 Wilfrid Laurier University Press Waterloo, Ontario, Canada www.wlupress.wlu.ca This book is printed on FSC recycled paper and is certified Ecologo. It is made from 100% post-consumer fibre, processed chlorine free, and manufactured using biogas energy. Printed in Canada Every reasonable effort has been made to acquire permission for copyright material used in this text, and to acknowledge all such indebtedness accurately. Any errors and omissions called to the publisher’s attention will be corrected in future printings. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright licence, visit http://www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777. For my mother, Wilma Van Der Meer (née Wietske Smallegange) And for Robert and Eric This page intentionally left blank ...