may 14, 1940 - Resisting the Nazis

Description:

"In May 1940, the German invasion of Holst's country instantly reignited her inherent passion for justice. She joined several resistance circles, and during the five brutal years of Nazi occupation she wrote poems and essays expressing her feelings about the evils of Fascism. Printed by the press of the Dutch underground, these works were passed from hand to hand, and sometimes memorized by the resistance members who were risking their lives daily as they hid Jews and smuggled weapons to be used in the fight against Nazi occupying forces." (https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/roland-holst-henriette-1869-1952)

"She took Jews into hiding at her country house in Brabant and wrote resistance poetry under the pseudonym ‘In Liefde Bloeiende’ (‘Blossoming in Love’)." (https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_low001200101_01/_low001200101_01_0016.php)

This country home and the surrounding grounds are now a nature reserve with historic trails and protected wildlife: https://www.natuurmonumenten.nl/natuurgebieden/oude-buisse-heide/route/gedichtenroute-henriette-roland-holst