Winterswijk<\/h1><\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>Aunt Riek<\/h2>\n
Heleen Kuipers-Rietberg, better known as Aunt Riek, and her husband Piet Kuipers resisted immediately after the German occupation. A conversation between Helena Theodora Kuipers-Rietberg (alias Aunt Riek) and Reverend Fredrik Slomp (alias Frits de Zwerver) after the latter’s sermon in Winterswijk in October 1942 is seen as the moment when the National Organization for Help to People in Hiding (LO) came into being. <\/p>\n
A month later, in November 1942, the LO was officially established in Aalten, in the house of resistance fighter ‘Uncle Jan’ Wikkerink<\/a>. Aunt Riek and her fellow fighters helped Jews, those who refused to work, crashed Allied pilots and others who needed to go into hiding<\/a> . <\/p>\nAt one point, Heleen and Piet have to go into hiding themselves, but they are betrayed and imprisoned. Piet survives the war. Heleen went via camp Vught to the extermination women’s camp Ravensbr\u00fcck, where she died at the end of December 1944. <\/p>\n
Monument in memory
\n<\/strong>On the Vrijheidsplein in Winterswijk there is a monument in honor of Aunt Riek and the Dutch resistance women. This monument was unveiled on May 4, 1955 by Princess Wilhelmina. <\/p>\nThe bronze plaque reads
\n<\/strong>” H.Th. Kuipers-Rietberg alias Tante Riek took the initiative to establish the National Organization for Help to People in Hiding (the L.O.), which took care of about 300,000 people in hiding during the war years 1940-1945 and therefore contributed a lot to the liberation of our country. Heleen Rietberg was born on 26 May 1893 in Winterswijk and died on 27 December 1944 in the concentration camp in Ravensbr\u00fcck.”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Memorial](\"https:\/\/nationaalonderduikmuseum.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Monument-TanteRiekkl.jpg\" "\\"Memorial")
<\/span><\/div>The female figure in the statue symbolizes Mrs. Kuipers-Rietberg. The deer depicts the many people who, like hunted game, found a safe haven with her. In addition, it refers to psalm 42: “The panting deer, escaped from the hunt.”<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Synagogue<\/h2>\n
Winterswijk has a beautiful fully furnished synagogue, built in 1889. The synagogue bears witness to the rich Jewish life in Winterswijk. The total complex includes a synagogue, ritual bathhouse, Jewish school + residence and cemetery; this was once the heart of the Jewish community of Winterswijk. The first Jews came to Winterswijk in the mid-1600s, the community grew into one of the largest in the Achterhoek. <\/p>\n
During guided tours, exhibitions and activities, visitors learn more about the Jewish faith, Jewish customs and the history of the community.<\/p>\n
German and Dutch students can become acquainted with the Jewish religion, customs and traditions under the guidance of experienced guides.<\/p>\n
Aunt Riek<\/h2>\n
Heleen Kuipers-Rietberg, better known as Aunt Riek, and her husband Piet Kuipers resisted immediately after the German occupation. A conversation between Helena Theodora Kuipers-Rietberg (alias Aunt Riek) and Reverend Fredrik Slomp (alias Frits de Zwerver) after the latter’s sermon in Winterswijk in October 1942 is seen as the moment when the National Organization for Help to People in Hiding (LO) came into being. <\/p>\n
A month later, in November 1942, the LO was officially established in Aalten, in the house of resistance fighter ‘Uncle Jan’ Wikkerink<\/a>. Aunt Riek and her fellow fighters helped Jews, those who refused to work, crashed Allied pilots and others who needed to go into hiding<\/a> . <\/p>\n At one point, Heleen and Piet have to go into hiding themselves, but they are betrayed and imprisoned. Piet survives the war. Heleen went via camp Vught to the extermination women’s camp Ravensbr\u00fcck, where she died at the end of December 1944. <\/p>\n Monument in memory The bronze plaque reads The female figure in the statue symbolizes Mrs. Kuipers-Rietberg. The deer depicts the many people who, like hunted game, found a safe haven with her. In addition, it refers to psalm 42: “The panting deer, escaped from the hunt.”<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Winterswijk has a beautiful fully furnished synagogue, built in 1889. The synagogue bears witness to the rich Jewish life in Winterswijk. The total complex includes a synagogue, ritual bathhouse, Jewish school + residence and cemetery; this was once the heart of the Jewish community of Winterswijk. The first Jews came to Winterswijk in the mid-1600s, the community grew into one of the largest in the Achterhoek. <\/p>\n During guided tours, exhibitions and activities, visitors learn more about the Jewish faith, Jewish customs and the history of the community.<\/p>\n German and Dutch students can become acquainted with the Jewish religion, customs and traditions under the guidance of experienced guides.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>On the Vrijheidsplein in Winterswijk there is a monument in honor of Aunt Riek and the Dutch resistance women. This monument was unveiled on May 4, 1955 by Princess Wilhelmina. <\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>” H.Th. Kuipers-Rietberg alias Tante Riek took the initiative to establish the National Organization for Help to People in Hiding (the L.O.), which took care of about 300,000 people in hiding during the war years 1940-1945 and therefore contributed a lot to the liberation of our country. Heleen Rietberg was born on 26 May 1893 in Winterswijk and died on 27 December 1944 in the concentration camp in Ravensbr\u00fcck.”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>Synagogue<\/h2>\n
![\"Synagogue](\"https:\/\/nationaalonderduikmuseum.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Synagoge-Winterswijk-vroeger.jpg\" "\\"Synagogue")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Freedom](\"https:\/\/nationaalonderduikmuseum.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Vrijheidspark.jpg\" "\\"Freedom")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Gradus](\"https:\/\/nationaalonderduikmuseum.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GradusKobus-Winterswijkkl.jpg\" "\\"Gradus")
<\/span><\/div>![\"House](\"https:\/\/nationaalonderduikmuseum.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Grenswinklel.jpg\" "\\"House")
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