Memorial Dutch Refugees Haaltert

In the hall of the old town hall "De Warande" in Haaltert there are three memorial plaques that commemorate the Dutch refugees who stayed in the Haaltert region from February 1945 to the summer of 1945.

Due to unexpected attacks by the Germans in December 1944 and January 1945, several Dutch villages in North Limburg were evacuated on orders from the British.
Because a large concentration of refugees in the front area was irresponsible, the Dutch were brought to Belgium after more than seven weeks. They first went to Eindhoven where the buildings of the Philips factories functioned as a transit camp.
From there it went by train to Belgium where English army wagons brought the people from Grubbenvorst and Lottum to Haaltert and surrounding villages (including Welle, Denderhoutem, Okegem and Iddergem).
Haaltert had already been liberated since September 3, 1944.
In the spring of 1945, many Dutch refugees were housed in this region. The retreat of the inhabitants of Grubbenvorst and Lottum began in March 1945, after the liberation of Venlo in the Netherlands.

After the war, the Dutch donated memorial plaques to the town halls of Haaltert, Kerksken and Denderhoutem out of gratitude. After the merger of municipalities, two could be saved, and a copy was made of the third.

"Offered out of gratitude
by the Dutch evacuees
1946"

"Offered by the refugees
from Lottum, Blerick,
Broekhuizen-Vorst, Blitterswijk,
Wanssum and Geisteren
-Dutch Limburg-
for the hospitality enjoyed
during the months of February,
March and April 1945"

"5 February '45 - 13 June '45
Driven from home and hearth
Gave us help and support.
Grateful memory of
our stay in
Denderhoutem", with the names on the left and right.
(Source: Het Laatste Nieuws)

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck