The Mundane World

Corrie ten Boom was the youngest of four siblings, and they lived with their father and mother, and three aunts in a house at 19 Barteljorisstraat, in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Their home, The Beje, was always an "open house" for anyone in need.

Through the decades the ten Booms were very active in social work in Haarlem, and their Christian faith inspired them to serve the religious community and society at large.

Corrie started many clubs for girls and boys, including the quite popular Triangle Club, before WWII broke out.

The Call To Adventure

During WWII, a need began to arise. Jewish Hollanders were being systematically ousted by Nazi forces. Things were becoming worse and worse for Jewish residents, any one who helped them, or resisted Nazi occupation.

Her Call to Adventure came when a displaced Jewish woman appeared at the door, asking for a place to hide. Corrie's father replied, "In this household, God's people are always welcome."

Crossing The Threshold

Because their house above their watch/clock shop had many houses, they began taking in refugees and Underground workers.

Because Corrie had been a club leader and social servant, she was well known in the community. She decided to work with the Underground in getting things in order for refugees including papers and food, by using her contacts and standing.

Her bed room was chosen to house a 'hiding place', so that if the Nazi's were to enter the house, all refugees and Underground workers could hide behind a fake wall accessed by a small door disguised as a book shelf.

The Path of Trials

In one of many amazing stories, the family was betrayed. On Feb. 28, 1944, the Gestapo entered the house, arresting the entire family.

They could not find the six people hidden in Corrie's wall.

Corrie and her family were sent to holding prisons and concentration camps. All but Corrie died in the camps or because of conditions in the camps. Corrie got out 'by accident' as her number was called for release. She later learned that her release had been a clerical error. The women prisoners her age in the camp were killed the week following her release. She said, "God does not have problems. Only plans."

While in the prisons and camps she faced hunger, disease, isolation, fatigue, prejudice.... all sorts of things. Hatred became a battle she had to overcome, and she overcame it with the "Love of God."

"There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still" and "God will give us the love to be able to forgive our enemies."

Master of Two Worlds

After she was released, at age 53, Corrie began a world-wide ministry which took her into more than 60 countries in the next 33 years! She testified to God’s love and worked to help Dutch and Germans recover from the devastation of the Nazi regime.

The ten Boom family and their many friends saved the lives of an estimated 800 Jews, and protected many Dutch underground workers.

Corrie was knighted by the Queen of the Netherlands in recognition of her work during the war, and a museum in the Dutch city of Haarlem is dedicated to her and her family.

The State of Israel honored ten Boom by naming her Righteous Among the Nations.

Her most famous book is "The Hiding Place" and chronicles in detail her amazing ordeal.

Submitted by: Hannah Hudson