Evacuees in Opsterland
During World War II, thousands of evacuees from the southern and eastern Netherlands ended up in Friesland. Many were also received in Opsterland, often with host families or in buildings such as Harinxma State and Lauswolt. Archives show how the municipality and local committees organized the reception and the challenges involved.
In 2025, we will celebrate 80 years of liberation. Freedom is not a given, even now we are witnessing conflicts in the world, causing large streams of people to seek refuge. People seeking safety elsewhere is a recurring phenomenon in every war. In 1944, the Netherlands saw a large-scale movement of evacuees from parts hard hit by war. This involved all sorts of practical aspects, including housing. Numerous host families opened their doors to the displaced. Families from places such as Roermond, IJmuiden and Arnhem suddenly had to leave hearth and home because they found themselves in the firing line. In the municipal archives this time some documents with correspondence between the municipality of Opsterland and the Commissaris Afvoer Burgerbevolking (now Commissaris van de Koning) in Leeuwarden, a function then performed by Baron van Harinxma thoe Slooten. It provides insight into how the reception was conducted.
A large stream of people
On November 3, 1944, it became clear that Friesland was on the eve of a large influx of refugees from the southern part of the Netherlands. Therefore, the mayors of the Frisian municipalities were called together by the Commissioner of Civilian Disposal in Leeuwarden. Subject of the discussion was the "Evacuation Question. On October 31, 1944, a consultation on this was scheduled. The first figures that circulated told of some 12,000 persons coming to Friesland from the Achterhoek, Gelderland. The plan was to house them in municipality north of the Harlingen-Groningen railroad line and municipality of Achtkarspelen. An influx of people also came north from Limburg. The evacuation was by order of the German Wehrmacht. Combat operations forced the population to head north. This was done on foot. Distances covered were therefore about 25 kilometers per day. However, transport was arranged from Ommen, via De Wijk, Meppel and Heerenveen, so that the bulk of the expected 12,000 people could get to their destination via Leeuwarden. A group of about 3,000 people was also transported via the Gorredijk-Drachten-Surhuisterveen-Buitenpost route, to reach the municipalities of Achtkarspelen, and Kollumerland and Nieuwkruisland. For this group it was expected that help would be arranged from Opsterland, especially Gorredijk. It was estimated that a group of about 1,000 persons per day could be led through Gorredijk.
Alignment and planning
Many villages and towns had local evacuation committees. To keep everything on track, the Gorredijk Committee was notified by phone or "by orderly" how the trip was going. After this the fugitives had to be picked up from a certain location and provided with hot food. For this the help of the Central kitchen was called in. Furthermore, they were to be picked up from Drachten from Gorredijk by horse and cart. Committee Drachten also had to be informed of this in good time. Gorredijk was considered a stopover. Medical personnel were asked to be ready in time for the sick. As early as 1942, a special local evacuation committee had been set up to take charge of such large passing groups.
Capacity problems
Evacuees were also received in Opsterland. However good the preparations were, at some point problems arose with capacity. On February 8, 1945, the Commissioner Afvoer Burgerbevolking was informed that the capacity was insufficient for even more people. The municipality of Opsterland was expected to create a total of 4,000 reception places. Due in part to the flooding of the polders, there was a sharp reduction in shelter capacity: there would be a reduction of 2,600 places. At that time, Opsterland had already accommodated at least 1,391 evacuees. It became clear that accommodating more people would create a major problem. Moreover, the calculation did not take into account the large number of children and hunger evacuees already being received. However, the polder administrations and local evacuation committees drew up a list of families who were eligible for evacuation. They were given the opportunity to find their own place within the municipality.
Harinxma State and Lauswolt
Locations where shelter was arranged included Harinxma State and in some rooms of Lauswolt. These locations were used for the 'evacuation of the R.K. asylum "De Steenen Trappen"'. Harinxma State was even completely used for the reception. Here they had 16 large and smaller rooms, the kitchen, corridor, attic, hallways, basement, 2 bathrooms and the entire garden at their disposal. Lauswolt provided 5 large unfurnished rooms, 2 furnished rooms and 2 small unfurnished rooms. The housekeeper's house was also used. In order to assess what costs the shelter had entailed, an investigation was conducted by the municipality in August 1945 into the rental value and disposal of the privy tubs by the local cleaning service. Because the evacuation had been prescribed by the military authorities, the damage done could be declared and was reimbursed. Furthermore, the house servant informed that there was damage to a rug in his room, to the tarp of the kitchen floors, and the hallway runner had become worn due to frequent use. Also, 8 washbasins were broken. It was to be agreed with the evacuation committee how the costs would be reimbursed.
Learn more
At Tresoar you can read more about the experiences of evacuees, their host families and the reception: Tresoar - Twadde Thús | Evacuees and their Frisian host families in WWII
Image gallery
