Johanna Frederika Waller Zeper
| Geslacht: | Vrouw | |
| Vader: | Jacobus Waller Zeper | |
| Moeder: | Cornelia Maria Bon | |
| Geboren: | 21 MEI 1905 | Haarlem |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Huizen van First Name: Johanna Frederika Maiden Name: Waller Zeper Date of Birth: 21/05/1905 Date of death: 04/05/1986 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Religion: CHRISTIAN Gender: Female Profession: HOUSEWIFE Place during the war: Haarlem, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Haarlem, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/12081) Prof. Dr. Jonas A. van Praag was living in Amsterdam with his wife Henriette (née van Praag) and their two sons, Herman (b. 1934) and Bernard (b. 1939) when Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940. After years of anti-Jewish measures, economic impoverishment and social isolation, the German occupation regime started ordering Jews to report for forced labor in the "East" in the summer of 1942. The van Praags decided, however, to try and find places to hide. Henriette and her son Bernard found an address with Hendrik and Johanna van Huizen in Haarlem. Johanna was the sister of Henriette's best friend Nel Waller Zeper. The van Huizens lived in a small apartment in a working class neighborhood of the city. They were Mennonites (Doopsgezind). Henk was a clerk and Johanna was at home with their two children. Henriette and Bernard were given the nicest room, whereas the rest of the family had to live in a smaller space. They were treated as family and felt welcome and protected in spite of constant danger. As both mother and son did not have a particularly 'Jewish appearance" they ventured outside from time to time, Henriette with a false identity card. Yet, these walks increased the level of danger for the van Huizens even more, as opposite lived German sympathizers (Deutschfreundlich), who suspected the real identity of the van Praags, but kept quiet. In September 1944, however, danger for betrayal came even closer. Through connections with a local Communist underground cell, Bernard was taken to Ruurd and Grietje van der Veer also in Haarlem. Henriette found a place elsewhere. The van der Veers also lived in a blue collar section of the city. They had two grown sons, who were informed about Bernard's real identity. Ruurd, whom Bernard called "Uncle", worked for the railway company. They all spoiled little Bernard and treated him lovingly. Despite the daily danger and deprivation, Bernard stayed with them during the coming winter, the infamous Hungerwinter, in which food supply and electricity were cut off from the western parts of the country by the Germans. Thousands died of hunger and cold. During his time in hiding with the van der Veers, Bernard was taught to read and write, and subsequently able to skip a grade after the war! Bernard stayed until the liberation of the city in May 1945, when his parents, who had also survived in hiding, came to pick him up. Contact between the van Praags and the van Huizens and van der Veers continued. On March 30, 2011, Yad Vashem recognized Hendrik van Huizen and Johanna Frederika van Huizen-Waller Zeper as well as Ruurd van der Veer and Grietje van der Veer-Zootjes as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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Gezin 1
| Huwelijkspartner: | Hendrik van Huizen | geb. 6 Sept 1903 |
| Huwelijk: | 1933 | Bloemendaal |