The Nationaal Onderduikmuseum in Aalten tells the grand history of people in hiding and resistance during the Second World War through ‘small’ personal stories. By focusing on these stories and the choices and dilemmas of ordinary citizens in the border region, a picture emerges of a community in 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.”

The heart of the museum is an authentic building inhabited during the occupation years by the Kempink family and their two young children. The story of this house is unique: while eight people in hiding were concealed in the attic, the German Ortskommandant kept his office in the front room of the same house due to its central location. During bombings, the vaulted cellar served as a shelter for the entire neighborhood.

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.