Ursula Cunera van Asch van Wijck

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Lodewijk Henrick Johan Marie van Asch van Wijk
Moeder: Lijdia Julia Maria Kneppelhout
Geboren: 15 Apr 1892 Rhenen
Overleden: 15 Apr 1963 Maartensdijk
Aantekeningen: Boetzelaer van Ursula (1892 - 1963 )
Personal Information
Last Name: Boetzelaer van
First Name: Ursula
Cunera
Maiden Name: Asch van
Wijck van
Title: BARONESS
Date of Birth: 15/04/1892
Date of death: 15/04/1963
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Place during the war: Zwanenburg, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Zwanenburg, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/2945)
Commemoration
Date of Recognition: 28/06/1984
Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Wall of Honor
Ceremony organized by Israeli diplomatic delegation in: The Hague, Netherlands
Rescued Persons
Oppenheimer, Frank, Dina
de Vries, Leonard
Frank, Gomperts, Vecht, Julie
Frank, Rudolf
Rescue Story
Boetzelaer van, Otto Maximiliaan & Ursula Cunera (van Asch van Wijck) & Kerkhof, Nicolasina (van Vugt) Dina Frank (later Oppenheimer) graduated from Amsterdam’s Jewish secondary school just before the German invasion of Holland and went into hiding on September 7, 1942, just a few weeks after her father, Dr. Benjamin Frank, a physician, was arrested by the Gestapo. He was taken to Auschwitz, where he perished. Dina was given the address of Baron Otto van Boetzelaer and his wife Ursula, who lived on an estate called Zwanenburg, an old country home in a rather secluded woodland area not far from the town of Dinther, North Brabant. Dina’s mother, Julie Frank-Vecht (later Gomperts), and her brother, Rudolf, initially remained in Amsterdam, but on May 28, 1943, they joined Dina at the estate. The Jewish writer Leonard de Vries, a friend of Dina’s from Amsterdam also hid there. Those in hiding with the van Boetzelaers had to be very careful that no one saw them and only went outdoors on dark nights, and then only in the immediate vicinity of the estate. Otto, who was well respected locally, lived a very reclusive existence, which lessened the chances of discovery. Only a few very close neighbors knew of the presence of Jews on the estate and nobody betrayed them. Otto and Ursula prepared a small hiding place under the stairs and this is where the Jews hid during a German search. The van Boetzelaers’ young housekeeper, (Toos) Kerkhof-van Vugt* was particularly helpful to those in hiding. All three of them did everything to make their Jewish guests comfortable and Otto thought of Dina as his own daughter. Although Julie Frank paid a small sum towards her and her children’s upkeep, Otto and Ursula’s motives for rescuing them were humanitarian and religious. The van Boetzelaers had two sons, one of whom was active in the Resistance and was caught and executed by the Germans; the other son lived on his own estate in Utrecht. Allied paratroopers liberated the Franks and Leonard de Vries on September 17, 1944, although fighting continued near the house for another six weeks. On June 28, 1984, Yad Vashem recognized Baron Otto Maximiliaan van Boetzelaer and his wife, Baroness Ursula Cunera van Boetzelaer-van Asch van Wijck, and Nicolasina Kerkhof-van Vugt as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Otto Maximiliaan von Boetzelaer geb. 25 Apr 1891 overl. 4 Aug 1954
Huwelijk: 14 Juli 1916 Rhenen
Kinderen:
  Rutger Wessel van Boetzelaer Female geb. 23 Nov 1918
  Lodewijk Henrick Zeger Boetzelaer Female geb. 11 Sept 1921 overl. 21 Dec 1944