“We had to flee and go underground”, said Mirjam Troostwijk, “but where to? And how do you find reliable people?” She spoke on April 16, 2015 at the unveiling of the ‘Monument voor moedige mensen in WO2 (Monument to brave people in WWII) in Velp. (Hoofdstraat / Hogeweg, Velp).

Mirjam Troostwijk-Kerkoet (l) and Evelyn Schön-Beder (r) together unveiled the bronze sculpture by artist Yvon van Wordragen. Both girls survived the war with families in Velp. “We owe our lives to them,” says Mirjam. “These brave and caring people have lovingly welcomed us into their homes. They deserve a golden seat in heaven.”