Het Apeldoornse Bosch Preview

0. Starting Point

Starting point of the tour is at Het Apeldoornsche Bosch Memorial Centre.

1. Paedagogium Achisomog

In 1933 the children and youth department of Het Apeldoornsche Bosch is opened: het Paedagogium Achisomog. Margaretha Swart ends up in het Paedagogium in 1942.

2. Sports fields

Sports and games were important aspects in treating patients. Former member of staff Sal van Son recounts the occupational therapy undertaken.

3. Hannah

4. Synagogue

In this Jewish institution patients were able to live according to Jewish laws and practices. Het Apeldoornsche Bosch also had its own synagogue.

5. Doctor’s house

Much of the staff lived on the premises. Nursing staff lived in the pavilions and the doctors and management had their own houses.

6. Sarah-Hoeve

Het Apeldoornsche Bosch continued to expand over the years and during the first years of the war, people still felt safe here.

7. Entrance

Het Apeldoornsche Bosch was remote, but it was in constant contact with the village of Apeldoorn and the rest of the outside world. However, with increasing anti-Jewish policies in 1941 and 1942, the institution and its patients were increasingly excluded from social participation.

8. Main building

In January 1943 it became clear that their days were numbered. Members of staff were faced with the choice of whether to stay or go into hiding.

9. Kitchen and laundry building

Up until the very last day, meals were prepared in the central kitchen for patients in all the pavilions.

10. Pavilion G

Claartje van Aals decided to stay with the patients. With a great sense of uncertainty, she waited in Pavilion G for what was to come…

11. The Ringlaan

The Ringlaan is the road that connects all the buildings of Het Apeldoornsche Bosch. During the night of 21-22 January 1943, trucks gathered on this road to transport all the residents. Sal van Son managed to flee.

12. Recreational building

Together with residents of Het Apeldoornsche Bosch, the last remaining Jewish citizens of Apeldoorn were collected in the recreational building to be transported to the train station, from where they would be deported.