The Nationaal Onderduikmuseum in Aalten tells the profound history of hiding and resistance during the Second World War through ‘small’ personal stories. By focusing on these accounts and the choices and dilemmas of ordinary citizens in the border region, a picture emerges of a community in both ordinary and extraordinary times. The museum’s mission is:

“Telling the major history through small stories and connecting them to the democracy and rule of law of today.”

At the heart of the museum is an authentic building inhabited during the occupation years by the Kempink family and their two young children. The history of this house is unique: while eight people were hidden in the attic, the German Ortskommandant maintained his office in the front room of the very same building due to its central location. During air raids, the vaulted cellar served as a shelter for the entire neighbourhood.

Discover the stories of people who lived through the war themselves and connect them with current events. Experience the cramped reality of the hiding space and discover how difficult it was to generate even the most basic necessities, such as electricity, at that time. Empathise with evacuees from Scheveningen who were forced to leave their coastal homes for the construction of the Atlantic Wall.