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Eyewitness Story: Nico van der Weele
Nico van der Weele, a farmer’s son from Elkerzee on Schouwen-Duiveland, was only nine years old when the war began. He witnessed Dutch soldiers firing at German bombers and even saw a plane crash near Noordwelle. Shortly after, the Germans took control of Schouwen. “A German wind blew,” Nico recalls. Even the beach became off-limits, where he was chased away by German soldiers.
In early 1944, everything changed for Nico’s family. The Allies decided to flood Schouwen-Duiveland to hinder the German occupiers. The residents were forced to evacuate. Nico’s father refused to go to the official evacuation locations in Dordrecht or Rotterdam, fearing they would starve there. Through acquaintances, they found temporary shelter in Oudelande, on Zuid-Beveland. On February 29, 1944—a leap day—the family arrived there. “We arrived as strangers, but everything was ready: the stove was lit, and there was bread on the table,” Nico recalls.
In the Midst of the Battle
They spent the summer of 1944 in Oudelande. But the war was drawing closer. The Germans requisitioned the farm where the family was staying, forcing them to flee once again. This time, they found a small house in the polder near Baarland. On October 26, they were awakened by deafening noise. British troops landed near Baarland, and what followed was a hellish battle.
Nico saw horses in a nearby field being struck and dying on the spot. The family fled to a nearby farm, only to find it already occupied by German soldiers. British advance units reached the farm, leading to intense gunfire and grenade explosions. The family took shelter in the barn, terrified. Nico recalls, “It was so bad, we said our goodbyes to each other. It felt like hell had broken loose on earth.”
Freedom and Survival
The barn was completely riddled with bullets. The animals died, and the barn fell eerily silent. Even Nico’s cat didn’t survive. By evening, British soldiers entered the barn. Liberation had arrived, but there was no time to celebrate. A sergeant who spoke a little Dutch warned them, “German bomb here soon.” The family was forced back into the damaged barn, where they sheltered for several days.
It wasn’t until Sunday that the family was truly free. Nico recalls, “We were in shock, but the joy was overwhelming. We were still alive. Everywhere we looked, there were dead soldiers, but we were still alive.” His story bears witness to the despair and resilience of ordinary people amidst the horrors of war and the heavy price paid for freedom.