They were affectionately called "mud girls' called young women who, after the floods of 1953 on a voluntary basis helped the cleaning of flooded homes on Goeree-Overflakkee and Schouwen-Duiveland Zealand. Den Bommel, the village at that time Flakkee was hit hard, she wants them next year at the memorial on February 1st.
Atty van der Hee (82) from Bergambacht was one of those benevolent farmers' daughters, who traveled in 1953 to the sleeves on poaching in the area affected by the floods. ,, I remember a nationwide call to the villages on the South Holland islands clean. A friend convinced me to come along. With six young girls from Bergambacht we went to Den Bommel. There caught a coordinator us and we were taken care of by a group of Woubrugge and placed in an inn. ''
Which took place in March 1953, nearly two months after the flood. ,, The houses were all made dry for much, but obviously you saw everywhere dirt, mud and dead fish on. You had particularly scrubbing floors. That happened at a brisk pace. Usually you worked with another. I then drew often with my girlfriend Adrie de Langen. ''
Flodderaar
,, You had two days to get home again presentable, '' Van der Hee remembers. ,, Then you had to go further down the list. I found that no cleaning chore. I was quite a flodderaar 'and really did not care about a few black marks on my snout. As a farmer know you work hard. ''
Mud girls stayed two weeks intern and then returned to Bergambacht. ,, I can not remember that we were rewarded by the people or the government. That was not necessary. Those people had been through enough misery. I later found a spoon with the inscription Den Bommel. May well be that it was a present. I do not know that anymore.''
Experiences
In Bergambacht were at her return not 'the ears of the head nagged' by curious villagers. ,, I can not remember anyone asked about our experiences or to Den Bommel. Also, my parents asked nothing. I went straight to work on the farm. So it went in that time. ''
Rien Bakelaar from Den Bommel Van der Hee would be happy to have them as February 1 commemorate the flood again, like the other girls mud which then affected village spic and span yielded. ,, I want at the commemoration of the victims, on February 1 next year, their efforts recall during the service. ''
Atty van der Hee, who is already 55 years living in Brielle, is not planning to come. ,, I am infirm and have no transportation. For me it does not all. Such outstanding performance was also untrue. ''
Pieter van der Laan / ad.nl/ Atty van der Hee © John de Pater.
Reactie plaatsen
Reacties