Corrie Gutsman Cruijs
Corrie Gutsman-Kruijs was just a child when war overtook the Netherlands, but the memories of those years have never faded. Born and raised in Amstelveen, she grew up in a household that would quietly resist the occupation and bear witness to both danger and courage.
Corrie’s father was a deeply principled man. During the occupation, he became involved in the resistance, secretly distributing illegal newspapers and helping to hide those at risk. The family lived in constant fear of betrayal. There were whispers in the street, and always the dread of a knock at the door. Corrie, though young, was not shielded from the tension. She remembers being told never to repeat what she heard at home.
Their house became a refuge. At one point, the family sheltered a young Jewish girl in their attic. Corrie was told that the girl was a distant cousin. Even as a child, she sensed this wasn’t true—but she also understood not to ask questions. They shared meals, whispered stories, and played quietly to avoid suspicion. That girl survived the war, thanks in part to the Gutsmans’ courage.
Corrie also remembers the hardship of the final war years—the sharp hunger, the bitter cold, and the absence of laughter in the streets. Her parents tried to keep some normalcy, but it was hard. Corrie helped her mother boil tulip bulbs when there was nothing else to eat. The family burned furniture to keep warm. School became irregular, then stopped altogether.
Then came the spring of 1945. Corrie recalls standing by the road, holding a small homemade flag as Canadian tanks rolled through town. She remembers the roar of engines, the smiling soldiers throwing candy to cheering children. For the first time in years, her town echoed not with fear, but with music and joy. Corrie still treasures the small silk Canadian flag she was given that day.
After the war, Corrie remained deeply connected to the story of liberation. She married, raised a family, and spoke often of the Canadians who gave her childhood back. She reminds younger generations that freedom is fragile—and that it was earned by the bravery of strangers who became heroes.
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Rotterdam
Photography & Story by Jason van Bruggen
