There's a lot of shooting now, we often hide in the shelter in the garden. Sometimes I'm so scared that my whole body shakes and I get a salty taste in my mouth.
V1s are coming over, they are flying bombs. They fly low and I lie awake for hours due to the hum, afraid they will fall. There are also V2s flying over, rocket bombs, but 
those fly higher, so you don't hear them.

Ede-Wageningen station is regularly under fire from machine guns. That is only 400 meters away from us! Once, when I'm by the side of the road, the bullets hit 
right next to my head, only 10 centimetres away. Fortunately, it works out well.
In 1945 the liberators keep moving closer, but the Germans don’t give up.

On the 17th April 1945 I hear shouting: They are coming, they're coming! I run down the street. English soldiers ride through the street with trucks and tanks. They hand out chocolate and cigarettes. Finally we are liberated! Some people cry with joy. A soldier gives me a plate of rice with plums: I have never tasted anything so good! The Germans are still fighting in Veenendaal and only two weeks later there really is peace. On the 5th May 1945 the Germans surrender. The war is over! 

THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
GERMANY CAPITULATES

A few weeks later we can return to Wageningen. Our house is very badly damaged: the back is lopsided and full of holes, all windows are broken. There is a large 
hole in the roof and there are many leaks. Luckily not above my bed.

This exhibition was realised in collaboration with: Herman van Brussel, GAW design and communication, Vereniging Oud Ede, Ede Municipal Archives, Das 
Bundesarchiv, USAAF Photo Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons, Historic Old Wageningen Association, Wageningen Municipal Archives, Wageningen 
Municipality, 4Meiwerkgroep Wageningen