Outdoor Exhibition Tiel

The people of the Rivierengebied endure severe hardship during the Second World War. Tiel, located on the banks of the Waal, is no exception. From 1940 to 1944, occupied Tiel resembles many other Dutch cities—marked by the persecution of Jews, collaboration, scarcity, and resistance. But after the failure of Operation Market Garden in September 1944, the Waal becomes a frontline. Suddenly, Tiel finds itself at the heart of the battle. From ‘normal’ occupation to a city in ruins by the time of liberation—discover Tiel’s wartime story.

The story of father Cornelis Fisscher—one of Tiel’s most notorious NSB members—and his daughter Greet.

On the Bleekveld in Tiel, behind what is now the Zinder cultural centre, there was once a prison, built in 1860, with a tragic wartime history.

“Dear family. On my way abroad and send my greetings. I’m on the train right now. We are fine. Hope all is well with you, Henny, and your mother too. Goodbye for now. Suus.”

These words were written by Suus van Buren from Tiel on a postcard she threw from the train during her deportation to Auschwitz. It was her final message to her loved ones.

‘I hope a bomb drops on it,’ Ricks great-grandmother said of their house before the evacuation.

Rick’s grandfather’s family lived in a little, old house, with no back garden, on Schoolstraatje, in the shadow of the tower of St Martin’s Church. During the war the Germans used the tower as a lookout post, which was why it came under heavy Allied fire.

“I still have those binoculars at home. They may be worthless to anyone else, but they’re priceless to me”, says Thonny Zondag.

In this story, you will discover why Thonny treasures these binoculars so much – an object that once belonged to the Germans.

“It was all a consequence of the war. If he hadn’t gone to Germany as a forced labourer, he probably wouldn’t have ended up feeling that way. Then he wouldn’t have had to atone for his guilt.” says Arie Jansen about his uncle Geurt van IJzendoorn.