To get an idea of just how many and whose lives Mrs. Truus Wijsmuller aka “Auntie Truus” saved, check out the website from the documentary: https://www.truus-children.com/

On the second floor of Nassaukade 125, the Wijsmullers had their apartment across from the Police Station. The couple used to host small groups of the children from the Orphanage as well as rich business associates of Mr. Wijsmuller.

Ms. Cietje Hackmann was the confidant and trusted housekeeper of the Wijsmullers, who stayed with Truus Wijsmuller after the war ended and after Mr. Wijsmuller passed away.

Mr. Wijsmuller, who worked at a bank, was extremely supportive of his wife whom he seems to have loved very much. After several miscarriages, he supported her endeavors to save as many Jewish children as she could before the borders closed permanently. He also got involved with the Jewish children who stayed at the Amsterdam Orphanage; he often visited the orphanage, took the children to the zoo, and as a former Navy man, he was like a strict father to the rowdier boys who were acting out because they missed their fathers.

Right before and during the first years of the Second World War, the winters were extremely severe. The only good thing about that was that the “Eleven-Cities Skating Race” could be held. Mr. Wijsmuller passionately told the children of the Amsterdam Orphanage about the iconic Dutch skating event.

At about 120 miles long, the “Eleven-Cities Skating Race” is the longest tour-and speed-skating event on natural ice in the world. The thousands of participants must get a stamp at each of the eleven picturesque historic Frisian towns connected by rivers, canals, and lakes. The race can only take place when the ice is at least six inches thick. When a deep freeze suddenly sets in, the race is often immediately held the next day or so, causing students to skip classes, employees to take off work, and a festive mood to take over.

Due to climate change, the “Elfstedentocht” has only taken place three times within the last 50 years. I fondly remember watching the 1997 “Eleven-Cities Skating Race,” the last one to be held.

Less than half a year later, war had been declared, and the Jewish children were no longer safe at the Amsterdam Orphanage. While this picture of fire in the Amsterdam harbor was taken on May 11, 1940, the fire was still raging a few days later when Mrs. Wijsmuller took 75 Jewish children in buses to the SS Bodegraven in the harbor of Ijmuiden. The scary trip was worth it because she managed to get the children aboard the very last ship to leave Holland before the Nazis took over.