Weijer van de Laurens & Johanna ; Daughter: Antonia

Weijer van de, Laurens Johannes & Johanna Geertruida Antonia & Antonia Catharina Cornelia During the German occupation of the Netherlands, Laurens and Johanna van de Weijer gave shelter to numerous Jews for different periods of time at their home in Hilversum, North Holland, among them B. Waterman and two Jewish families. Many of these people also left some of their valuables at the van de Weijers’ home until after the war, when they received them back in their entirety. In addition, the van de Weijer family found a hiding place for Betsy Wijnberg at the home of their friend Jan Westbroek* in Hollandsche Rading, Utrecht. However, even after she moved to Jan’s home, the van de Weijers still helped look after her. Every week they would send their 19-year-old daughter, Antonia (To), by bicycle on the ten kilometer journey with food and reading material for Betsy. At the time, To was working in a grocery store and was able to get ration cards and foodstuffs without being suspected. To’s visits, the food, and the reading material, as well as yarn she brought for Betsy to knit, eased Betsy’s life in hiding especially since Jan Westbroek was out working most of the day and Betsy was left on her own. On a number of occasions, To was also sent to Betsy’s parents, who were in hiding in Amsterdam. Through her, Betsy managed to maintain contact with her own parents. On September 9,1975, Yad Vashem recognized Laurens Johannes van de Weijer, his wife, Johanna Geertruida Antonia van de Weijer, and their daughter, Antonia Catharina Cornelia van de Weijer, as Righteous Amongst the Nations.