Blijdorp has already recorded many stories about the war, including those about weapon transports in the Wieringermeer. She thought she knew the history of the region well, but was surprised by all the new stories behind the names monuments.
For example, the story of Pieter Paulusse, whose name is on a monument in Wieringerwerf, impressed the writer. Paulusse flee the poverty in Zeeland to work in the new Polder Wieringermeer. “He was assigned to the cavalry in The Hague. He died in German bombing in May 1940.”
“The book reads as if you are reading about the family”
The writers have used understandable language to make the stories readable for all primary school students. The book also includes two lessons, one for school and one at the Jewish Werkdorp in Slootdorp.
Otto Smit of the 4 May committee Wieringermeer mainly hopes that students go through the polder with this book themselves. “The book reads as if you are reading about the family,” says Otto Smit. “The stories come very close. It really does something when you see that ordinary people just do things that are actually very unusual. Thanks to them we live in freedom.”