One of the most moving museum tours I’ve ever had took place at the Ten Boom Museum in the center of Haarlem.
The Ten Boom family provided a refuge in their home for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution during World War II. Father Ten Boom, a devout Christian, had a heart for the plight of the Jews and was willing to do just about anything to help. Corrie, who later became a worldwide famous Christian evangelist, was his daughter, and she possessed the same fearless courage her father did.
The family took monumental risks to help. Their fearlessness and courage to put their lives on the line to help their neighbors in need push the limits of human incredulity.
A local architect designed a secret trap door in Corrie’s bedroom closet to provide access to a slim space created behind the bedroom wall.
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| The museum cut a hole in the wall to reveal the hiding place |
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| The secret door into the hiding place |
When the Nazi police or a person they didn’t trust knocked on the front door, a bell would be rung in the house, and the Jews in hiding would quickly flee to the bedroom, snake through the trapdoor, and shut it behind them. Corrie would put linen and clothes in front of the door in her closet and shut the closet door. Then the Jews would stand breathlessly quiet in pitch dark until the trouble passed. Sometimes the wait was for hours. Once it was for two and a half days. No water, no food, no toilet.
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| The slim space to stand behind the false wall |
After several years of successfully hiding those in need, the Ten Booms were finally caught by the Nazi police and the family was sent to a concentration camp. Some family members expired; some survived. Corrie survived and later wrote a book about her experience called “The Hiding Place.” It was turned into a movie in the 1980s.
Our guide was exceptionally talented and skilled in her work. During her moving testimony of the unselfish acts of the Ten Booms, I asked myself questions like, “Would I do the same if I was in their circumstances? Was I unselfish enough to risk my life for the safety of others, over and over again? What would I perhaps do differently in order to help?”
I stood in the hiding place and imagined what it must have felt like to be standing there when the Nazi Police tapped on the walls trying to detect that very spot. I could not imagine it. It is not possible unless you are in the experience, I decided.
This world is filled with selfless people who put their lives on the line to help others. We are all blessed by them. And we need to take time to appreciate and honor their giving.
Hi Evan! I met Corrie in the 1970’s when she visited my friends church in Burbank, CA. She was a little bit of a woman and so sweet and full of love, not a bitter bone in her. She spoke of how she kept close to God all the while in the camp. She sang and prayed to a loving God who she just knew would and did save her! What cannot Love do! She came out not one bit affected! What a testimony to the safety of our God, and yes my friend you would help your fellow man in the very same love as Corrie! You already are! ((hugs)) Lynda
I have read Corrie Ten Booms book “The Hiding Place” over and over again and also several of her other books. She is such an inspiration and example!
Thank you for sharing the pictures of the hiding place!
Thank you for the pictures. I had not seen them as you have showed them, but I have read her book. It was very sad that her sister died in the camp, even when she nursed her, as I remember.
Thank you so much for the pictures of the hiding place. I try to read that book every few years, and it has enhanced my practice of Christian Science. Corrie and her sister practiced meeting every horrendous error with love, and practiced the discipline of gratitude in every circumstance (“in every thing give thanks.”) In one instance, they and other female prisoners, most of whom were very ill, were consigned to the worst of the filthy barracks, which were infested with lice and other parasites. Corrie’s sister urged gratitude. They decided to be grateful for God, for anything they could think of…including the lice. Later, they discovered that this was the only barracks which the Nazi soldiers did not enter at night, to rape the inhabitants…because of the lice! Many such remarkable incidents happened, culminating in circumstances in which Corrie was able to simply walk away from the concentration camp unseen by guards. “Hid with Christ in God” describes this wonderful woman and the result of her prayerful approach to every circumstance. And she began this amazing work with her father, as a 40-something spinster with nothing in her background to suggest the quiet heroics which were to follow. Amazing grace. The book has really enhanced my understanding of how to “strengthen your heart” by step by step practice of the fruits of the spirit in the face of fearful odds. Enjoy!
Evan: Thank you so much for your moving description of the Ten Boom Museum. On one of our trips to Holland while icycling with Elderhostel for 2 weeks, one of our wonderful guides was a Jewish fellow who, with his family, was secretly hidden from the Nazis by the wonderful people of Holland. He told us such incredible stories of his family’s survival during those horrific days and of their undying gratitude for their kindnesses. His experience was very similar to the one described. I’ve never read stories by this author but will look for them at the library. They certainly were “hid with Christ in God”. I remember him telling us that not a day would go by without giving gratitude to God for their protection. Great gratitude to you, Evan, for your uplifting posts on Spiritview, each one truly a treasure for spitirual growth.
Was Corrie Boom the same who also hid Anne Frank?
No, I don’t believe the Ten Booms hid Anne Frank. There is a house in Amsterdam, a museum dedicated to Anne Frank, that tells her story.
To one of the anonymous commentators above:
I do not remember that Corrie Ten Boom was the one who walked out of the concentration camp without being seen by the guards. She was released, but later learned that her release was due to an ‘error’. Regarding the person who just walked away from the camp, I believe that this account figures in ‘A century of Christian Science Healing’.
Yes, ‘A Century of Christian Science Healing’ pg. 137. Mrs. L. Adrienne Vinciguerra, Santee, CA
I, too, have read Corrie’s book and found it to be so uplifting. Your comments, Evan, and pictures of the very spot are also inspiring (as always). I truly believe that gratitude clears the way for the Christ, Truth to manifest in our lives. I have often wondered if I would have the courage to take a stand like the Ten Booms and yet aren’t we all supported and sustained by God in whatever trial we are facing? With God, All Things are Possible. Thank you Evan, for this wonderful blog.