Pietje Bos

Geslacht:	Vrouw
Vader:	Siebe Geerts Bos
Moeder:	Trijntje Eilander
Geboren:	24 Feb 1881	Surhuisterveen, Achtkarspelen
Overleden:	6 Sept 1958	Houtigehage
Aantekeningen:	Last Name: Heddema First Name: Pietje Maiden Name: Bos Date of Birth: 24/02/1881 Date of death: 06/09/1958 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Religion: PROTESTANT Gender: Female Place during the war: Drachtstercompagnie, Friesland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Drachtstercompagnie, Friesland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/11140) The Jewish Muller family, Louis (20.7.1903 – 30.4.1943 Auschwitz ) and Lena Blitz (1908 – 12.2.1943 Auschwitz) and their only son, seven-year-old Salo (29.2.1936) lived in Amsterdam. With the increasing anti-Jewish measures, they hoped that as Dutch citizens they would not be hurt. However, with the large razzia in May 1942, Lena was arrested and taken to the Hollandsche Schouwburg, a holding area for Jews to be taken to “work in the East”. When Louis found out, he looked for her, but was apprehended as well, as was their son Salo. He was rudely separated from his parents and taken to the Crèche, the nursery, on the opposite side of the street, where the children were held to be reunited with their parents only on the date of deportation. However, before it came to this, Salo was whisked away by underground workers, mostly students, and taken to the northern province of Friesland, to the village of Drachtstercompagnie. One dark night, at the beginning of 1944, after seven earlier hiding addresses had not worked out, Salo was put on a bicycle by an unknown person and taken to the home of 62-year-old Pietje Heddema, a widow since 1925, and Klaas Vellinga, 67, a widower. The two lived very modestly trying to make ends meet. Pietje and Klaas were confronted with a frightened and neglected little boy. He was utterly filthy and underfed. His body was covered with lice. It took the two quite some time to clean him and even longer to calm him. A little earlier, another Jewish boy had been brought to them, Sal Roet, going by the name Sjorsje. He too had needed cleaning and loving care. If detected, Salo, now going by the name of Japje, was supposedly a cousin from the southern province of Limburg, where people had dark hair, whereas in Friesland most people were blond. Pietje was addressed as “Beppe” (oma in Friesian) and Klaas, as “Omke” (uncle). Both boys had to stay indoors for their safety, and only played with Pietje’s grandchildren when they occasionally came over. Neither boy could go to school. In spite of the loving care of Pietje and Klaas, Salo often fell ill with asthma and eczema and started to stutter. Both Salo and Sal stayed with Pietje and Klaas until the liberation of the area in April 1945. Sal Roet stayed on for some months when it was learned that his parents and close relatives had all perished. He then went to live with an adoptive family. Until this day he is traumatized by his war past. Also, the parents of Salo Muller perished in Auschwitz. He went to live with his mother’s sister. Salo has stated: “Until this day, I do not understand how two older people had the courage and strength to take in totally neglected and frightened Jewish boys, each with his own difficult experiences, beyond the fact that doing so endangered their lives. I thank them each and every day.” Salo became a well-known figure in the Dutch sports world, as the physiotherapist of the Amsterdam Ajax soccer team. On September 2, 2007, Yad Vashem recognized Pietje Heddema-Bos and Klaas Vellinga as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner:	Rein Heddema	geb. 2 Dec 1872 overl. 26 Jan 1925
Huwelijk:	1 Juni 1901	Smallingerland