Recipient Military Order of William Van den Hoek (93) passed away

Ridder Militaire Willems-Orde Cornelis Pieter van den Hoek past away in Werkendam, last Thursday at the age of 93. The resistance fighter received the highest Dutch decoration of bravery for his heroic deeds during the Second World War in the Netherlands.



Van den Hoek made in secret a connection between the liberated and occupied areas of the Netherlands towards the end of 1944 and the start of 1945. This was in relation with the Bureau Inlichtingen of the Dutch Government. Van den Hoek made 37 passes of 18 kilometer through the Biesbosch and across the Merwede. He rowed between numerous enemy watchposts and patrolling naval crafts. During one of his missions, his boat was teken under fire and Van den Hoek was taken prisoner. He however managed to escape within the month and restarted his activities.

Taken German prisoners
Eventually Van den Hoek met up with other resistance fighters.The group attacked armed Germans and captured them. THen they imprisoned and guarded the German prisoners in a remote part of the Biesbosch.

Moed, beleid en trouw
By Royal Decree of August 30th, 1948, Van den Hoek was decorated “for proving himself worthy of excellent deeds of courage, breavery and merit in battle" and was awarded the Ridder der 4e klasse der Militaire Willems-Orde.