Michiel 2005's photos with the keyword: st. michielsgestel

After the German invasion of the Netherlands, the Germans in Dutch East Indies were interned. The Germans arrested a large group of prominent Dutch people and held them hostage. From 1942 the camp St. Michielsgestel was used to house them. There was a light regime, so the hostages could talk with each other, also about the future of the Netherlands. Before the war, Dutch society was organised along religious and ideological lines, so that protestants didn't meet or talk to catholics or socialists or liberals. In the camp in St. Michielsgestel they did talk to each other. This resulted in a movement to create a more unified country. The mayor of Bloemendaal was also interned and he vowed to name the next new street in Bloemendaal after the camp in St. Michielsgestel.