Hanneke Groenteman will give the Willem Arondéus lecture from the Provincial States of North Holland on May 7. A lecture about freedom, in tribute to resistance fighter Willem Arondéus.
Hanneke Groenteman experienced from a young age that freedom is not a given. During World War II, her Jewish parents lost their jobs, freedom of movement, and ultimately family and friends. They went into hiding and survived the war. Hanneke, not yet 3 years old, was left with a resistance woman. The experiences brought a deep awareness of how fragile and important freedom is.
Lecture in the Great or St. Bavo Church in Haarlem
The Willem Arondéus lecture will take place in the Great or St. Bavo Church in Haarlem. The church opens at 7:30 PM, the lecture starts at 8:00 PM and admission is free. You can register for the lecture via the registration button.
Willem Arondéus
Resistance fighter Willem Arondéus (1894-1943) was brave and unconventional. He openly expressed his homosexuality at a young age, which was unusual and daring at the beginning of the last century. Arondéus was a visual artist and writer. Tapestries of his hand hang in the States Hall of the provincial house in Haarlem.
Amsterdam Population Register Largely Destroyed on March 27
Arondéus led the resistance group that carried out the attack on the Amsterdam population register. On the night of March 27, 1943, the group set the administration on fire with explosives, to prevent the occupier from tracking down Jews and people in hiding. The occupier then arrested almost all those involved.
On July 1, 1943, 12 resistance fighters, including Arondéus, were shot dead in the dunes near Overveen. The damage to the population register was less significant than hoped, but the attack had a positive effect on the resistance in the Netherlands.
20th Arondéus Lecture on Freedom
The Arondéus lecture by Groenteman in 2025 will be the 20th. Traditionally, the lecture is around Liberation Day. The theme is freedom or the freedom to be who you are. Earlier speakers included Natascha van Weezel, Peter van Uhm, Step Vaessen, Frans Timmermans, and Nazmiye Oral. The speakers are free to give their own interpretation of the lecture.
Broadcast and Sign Language Interpreter
Everyone can follow the lecture live via the YouTube channel of the Province of North Holland. A sign language interpreter will be present at the lecture and will translate for the hearing impaired.
More About Willem Arondéus
- Listen to the podcast about Arondéus via Apple Opens an external link or Springcast Opens an external link . A co-production of the Amsterdam 4 and 5 May committee, Pink in Resistance, and the Province of North Holland.
- Watch the video of the War Graves Foundation (YouTube) about Arondéus Opens an external link .