Dirk Hellinga

Geslacht:	Man
Vader:	Sipke Hellinga
Moeder:	Atje Mulder
Geboren:	3 MEI 1905	Beets, Opsterland
Aantekeningen:	Last Name: Hellinga First Name: Dirk Date of Birth: 03/05/1905 Date of death: 21/02/1993 Rescuer's fate: survived imprisoned Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Religion: CALVINIST Gender: Male Profession: SHOP OWNER, POSTMAN Place during the war: Nij Beets, Friesland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Nij Beets, Friesland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/4745) In the summer of 1943, Mr. van Engel decided that it was necessary for him and his two children to go into hiding. Mr. van Engel turned to the local Resistance, which turned to the Hellingas, who agreed to shelter Mr. van Engel’s four-year-old daughter, Miep. The Hellingas were a childless couple in their late thirties who were devout Dutch Reformed Protestants. When Miep arrived at their home, they were already sheltering an undernourished 12-year-old non-Jewish girl from Amsterdam. The Hellingas owned a general store that they operated from their home. Sjoukje ran the store and employed a woman to do the administrative work. She did not trust the assistant, but could not dismiss her. Consequently, Miep was instructed never to admit to being Jewish. Miep had the “luxury” of moving around freely, utilizing a document confirming the story that she had arrived in Nij-Beets as a social welfare case. Aside from sheltering these children, Dirk and Annie were also active in the Resistance. Dirk, as local postman and manager of the post office, moved freely around the area and obtained a great deal of information useful to the Resistance, such as how to procure illegally slaughtered meat and other essential provisions. After awhile, the Hellingas ran into trouble. The Germans had set up headquarters only four kilometers away, in Beetsterzwaag, and frequently went on house searches. One morning, the Hellingas’ home was searched and an illegal radio was found. Dirk was out on his mail route, and Sjoukje was arrested and imprisoned in Leeuwarden for two months. After interrogation, Sjoukje was released and Dirk was apprehended in the middle of the night and imprisoned. Sjoukje swore she would “buy” his freedom, and she stood by her word. Dirk was released after only a week, but in that short time he contracted a severe ear infection which left him deaf in one ear for the rest of his life. The Hellingas soon resumed their illegal activities, such as collecting ration cards and money to sustain Jewish and non-Jewish fugitives. Also, the radio was soon replaced. In April 1945, Miep started school and remained with the Hellingas until December 1945, when her father reestablished himself and was able to take back his two children. On October 1, 1990, Yad Vashem recognized Dirk Hellinga and his wife, Sjoukje Hellinga-van Houten, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner:	Sjoukje van Houten	geb. 2 Aug 1905
Huwelijk:	16 Juni 1928	Smallingerland