Douma, Rinze Joukes

Date of birth:: April 28th, 1910 (Bergum, the Netherlands)
Date of death:: March 9th, 1945 (KZ Bergen-Belsen, Germany)
Nationality:: Dutch

Biography

Reverend Rinze Douma stands with his two eldest daughters in front of the church and rectory in Emmer-Compascuum. It is the summer of 1941. In the photo, the Second World War seems far away. Appearances are deceptive, because Rinze and his wife Minke are increasingly active in resistance, invisible to the occupier. It is not without consequences. In 1943, the young family has to leave the rectory in a hurry and go into hiding. Three of the four children – the youngest just one year old – are separated from their parents and placed elsewhere. Their parents' resistance continues unabated, until Rinze is arrested at the end of May 1944. He ends up in the detention center in Groningen and in various concentration camps. He is able to secretly send notes to his wife and Minke keeps a diary, which makes it clear how they live between hope and fear. Rinze does not survive the war.

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