Laanen van Cornelis

Laanen van, Cornelis Martinus Johannes Cornelis (Cor) van Laanen, the regional commander of the underground in Dinther, North Brabant, helped a group of Jews who had to flee suddenly overnight from their hiding place in a hotel. He found them a temporary shelter for two nights and took the Hes couple and their teenage son, Alex, and another young man, Bob van Dijk, to the home of Karel and Drika Kézér* in Loosbroek, North Brabant. The four fugitives stayed there from the summer of 1944 until the liberation in October 1944. Cor, who worked closely with Karel, continued to maintain contact with the refugees, bringing them food coupons and other necessities. He also tipped them off whenever a house search was imminent so that they could disappear into their hiding places. The presence of large contingents of German soldiers never stopped Cor and Karel from risking their lives to help the hidden Jews. On October 7, 1975, Yad Vashem recognized Cornelis Martinus Johannes van Laanen as Righteous Among the Nations.