Veenderpolder and Lijkerpolder: One man down

Veenderpolder and Lijkerpolder: One man down

During World War II, autumn 1944, an English pilot made an emergency landing on the east side of the Veenderpolder and Lijkerpolder (near Noorderhemweg) on one of the many peat fields. He crashed into a field of chrysanthemums. Two observing inhabitants, Johan Bakker and Arie van Velzen, saw it happen. They did not hesitate and saved the pilot from his awkward position. They hide his parachute and Arie van Velzen gave him his overall. This way they could take camouflaged pilot to a safer place, just in time. The Germans who chased the pilot got lost in the polder with its many pet fields. With help from the inhabitants, the pilot got into hiding in a barn and later was smuggled out of the country by the Brothers van der Meer who were transporters.

The English pilot was not the only one who got into hiding. Many young men were forced to hide and this way could escape from the German razzia’s. Young men who did not get into hiding or were discovered, were put on transport to Germany and were put to work.

This story is part of the Tulip Route. A sailing trip full of stories of the flourishing polder. The Tulip Route is free of charge. You can find a map of this route on our website, or at one of our Tourist Transfer Points (TOP) nearby local restaurants and pubs or marinas.

The Tulip Route in Roelofarendsveen is made possible by local entrepreneurs. This story is offered by Wijsman Petrol.