Newlande

An entire village chooses to show civil courage.
Every household helps. No one betrays anyone. No one falls out of line.

Nieuwlande – a small, unassuming village in the Dutch province of Drenthe, crisscrossed by canals, remote, little known. Yet during the German occupation in World War II, this quiet place became an extraordinary site of resistance – and a symbol of collective humanity.

The decision: To help – together

In the early 1940s, when the persecution of Jewish people in the Netherlands became increasingly brutal, the residents of Nieuwlandes made a courageous decision:
Every household should take in at least one person or family member who is being persecuted.
No formal vote, no public appeal – but a silent agreement. Thus, a comprehensive rescue network was created, supported by ordinary people: farmers, shop owners, working families.

Among the rescued were Jewish refugees, but also deserters, resistance fighters, and people who wanted to evade forced labor service. Nieuwlande offered them protection – not least because of its special location: waterways, forests, scattered farms and peatlands created a natural hiding system. And there were no informants – because everyone was involved.

The power of key people

The collective rescue was led by courageous organizers:

• Johannes Post, Resistance fighters and the engine of the network
• Arnold Douwes whose father was a Reformed pastor, took over the coordination on the ground
• Jan Wildschut Helfer, who procured fake IDs and safe accommodation

They took care of food, clothing, documents, and hiding places – and were prepared to risk their lives.

An extraordinary legacy

Newlande is one of the very few places whose entire population was collectively honored as „the Righteous Among the Nations.“ On June 18, 1988, Yad Vashem in Jerusalem dedicated a monument – for the 117 families who had decided together to do the right thing. A silent, almost unique act of resistance and solidarity.