Bernard Hiddink

Geslacht:	Man
Vader:	Hendrik Jan Hiddink
Moeder:	Willemina Capelle
Geboren:	18 Jan 1879	Wisch
Overleden:	9 Feb 1948	Aalten
Aantekeningen:	Last Name: Hiddink First Name: Bernard Date of Birth: 18/01/1879 Date of death: 09/02/1948 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Religion: CALVINIST Gender: Male Profession: farm manager Place during the war: Aalten, Gelderland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Aalten, Gelderland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding Arranging shelter File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/10464) Bernard and Willemina Hiddink lived in the village of Aalten (prov. Gelderland) with their three adult children, in their twenties, who all worked on the family farm. The family was devout Calvinist (Gereformeerd). As a farmer, Bernard had business connections with the local Jewish cattle dealer Julius van Gelder, who lived close by in the same village and with whom he had developed a friendly relationship. When, in the summer of 1942, the deportation of the Jews started to the death camps in the East, Hiddink suggested that his family prepare a room in their home, where the van Gelder family could hide. Indeed, that October, the van Gelders were ordered to report for "work in the East". Julius, his wife Froukje and their older son David, b.1933, moved into the room on the Hiddink farm. They had to stay away from public view at all times, since they were known to all the neighbors. Since such a confined environment was considered too difficult for their younger son Sallo, b.1937, it was decided to look for another hiding place for him close-by with Derk and Johanna te Lindert*. In addition, the Hiddinks created a dugout under the floor for the three van Gelders to move into in case of house searches in the village. An additional danger was presented by German soldiers who frequented the area, forcing the farmers to provide them with dairy products. The van Gelders did indeed spend quite some time in their underground hideout. Drika, the 22-year-old Hiddink daughter, concocted an internal warning system that was to be used when danger came close. On a few occasions the van Gelders hid in the haystack or out in the fields. In August 1943, Sallo van Gelder was betrayed at his hiding address. A rescue operation was immediately set in motion, initiated by the local physician, Johannes der Weduwen*. When Sallo was already at the train station to be taken to the Westerbork transit camp, Sietske Visser-Hoekstra*, dressed as a nun, succeeded in snatching the boy from the platform and whisking him out under her habit. Afterwards, the Hiddinks took him in as well. In February 1944, Willemina Hiddink passed away as a result of heart failure. Since a large number of relatives, friends and neighbors came to pay their respects, the entire van Gelder family was temporarily moved elsewhere, but all returned soon after. Drika, the daughter, took over the household responsibilities and became the van Gelders' principal caretaker. All the van Gelders saw the liberation at the Hiddink farm on March 30, 1945, after two and a half years in hiding. Their presence at the Hiddinks had been kept a total secret from the neighbors, who had not suspected a thing. Both families have kept in close touch ever since. On January 2, 2005, Yad Vashem recognized Bernard Hiddink and Willemina Aleida Hiddink-Ormel, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner:	Willemina Aleida Ormel	geb. 24 Dec 1882 overl. 13 Feb 1944
Huwelijk:	2 Nov 1905	Wisch
Kinderen:
	Arend Jan Wilhelm Hiddink	geb. 1 Apr 1911