Lucy Steen van der Schuit

Two weeks ago, Hans, the son of Johan van Beem (who was a member of the Dutch Resistance-movement during WWII) entered after more than 70 years his parental home, the house we're living in now.

His father, Johan van Beem, was not only courier of Je Maintiendrai and Het Parool but also took care of the distribution of ration-coupons.

In the villa Us Honck, Jewish children were in hiding. When the situation became too dangerous, two girls, Hetty and Klara found a hidingplace in our house. Hans remembers that very well.

Johan van Beem was betrayed and transported to Ravensbrück where he was liberated by the Russians. On the way back to Holland he died by overfeeding.

There proved to be a special link between Hans and me: André Rieu sr. who was my father Arnolds school- and choir-mate, played the grand piano in this house in the 1930-ies.

Hans was very glad that this house that he left in 1946 had hardly changed. Sitting in the wingchair on the spot where once stood the grand piano, he said: "I feel at home, I would like to stay . . . "