Ode to Nel de Groot-Bolderheij en Ada van Randwijk-HenstraTwo combative women
Nel Bolderheij aged 21, just out of the Civil Orphanage, photo from family archive
My mother Nel Boldereij was an Amsterdam native born in 1902. She grew up as an orphan in the Civil Orphanage on Kalverstraat, where she proudly wore the famous orphan's costume. She did, however, organise a strike for better compensation for jacking potatoes by a few pennies. During Queen Wilhelmina's visit, she sat next to the doll house Wilhelmina had donated. Despite a ban, Nel answered honestly no when asked if it was often played with.
Nel later worked at hardware store C. J. Van Den Broek as a secretary. She married the poet Jan H. De Groot. During the war, Nel was in the resistance with the group Vrij Nederland, together with Ada van Randwijk, after whom I am named.
Period
1901– 2025
About
Ode by Ada de Groot to her mother Nel de Groot-Bolderheij and fellow resistance fighter Ada van Randwijk-Henstra.
Two brave women who did dangerous work and denied themselves nothing, despite fear and dread of being caught
Nel de Groot-Bolderheij en Ada van Randwijk-Henstra
Ode to two brave women who did dangerous work and denied themselves nothing, despite fear and dread of being caught.
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