The Maliebaan Monologues, on the most exciting street in the war

Around it were more than ten German authorities and various departments of the growing NSB. Across the street was the palace of the Roman Catholic Church. There were the Dutch SS, the infamous Office of the Security Police and several people who played a role in the resistance.

The history of this Utrecht street war was captured by writer and program maker Ad van Liempt in the book On the Maliebaan. "The Maliebaan was the most exciting street in the Netherlands during the war," says Van Liempt.

Last year, the actors performed monologues from this book. Encouraged by enthusiastic responses from viewers decided the theater and Van Liempt to capture the monologues on video and turn it into a television series. NIS sends the series in the first six days of the month of May.

Heart and soul

"Because of the way the monologues are registered, all in black and largely in close-up, the lyrics come up on," says founder and producer of Liempt. "It's a very special way to retell the stories of WWII. You notice it to the actors, they have put into it their heart and soul."

The first monologue on Sunday, May 1st of Archbishop Jan de Jong. He lived in the archbishop's palace, Maliebaan 40. He came into conflict with the NSB and with occupation authorities and openly spoke out against the lifting of the trade unions and the persecution of Jews.

Followed monologues include Erna Boomsma, a girl from an NSB family adopted on Maliebaan 74 in 1944 at the Security Police, Henk Feldmeijer, the founder and leader of the Dutch SS, the Jewish businessman Frits Alsace, resistance wife Marie Anne Tellegen and Anton Mussert, leader of the NSB.

NIS The Maliebaan Monologues, Sunday 1 until Friday, May 6th, NPO 2 and NOS.nl.Starting time tonight 22:30. The days after alternating between 22.30 and 22.45.

By: NOS Editorial Photo: Reuters