NGV Stambomenverzameling
Cornelis van 't Land
1903 - 1981 (77 jaar)1. Cornelis van 't Land was born on 24 okt 1903 in Terschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL (zoon van Jan van 't Land en Jannetje van 't Hof); stierf on 8 okt 1981inCoalhurst, Alberta, Canada. Andere gebeurtenissen:
- Recordnummer: 42568
- _NEW: 1 nov 2010
Aantekeningen:
Cornelis van't Land
Taken from "Our Treasured Heritage- A History of Coalhurst and District
Pages 548-55
Man who rescued Jews insists he wasn't a hero.
Coalhurst
Throughout the entire interview, the little man keeps insisting he wasn't a hero.
Why then would a tree be growing in Israel in Cornelis van't Land's honor? And why would Dwight D. Eisenhower
have signed a certificate of gratitute to the former Dutch businessman?
Because, despite the 77-year-old caretaker's attempts to downplay it, hundreds of extermination bound Jews, work
camp-destined Dutch men and Allied pilots were saved through his efforts.
Van't Land was among those in Holland during the Second World War who concealed, helped feed and protected
people like Anne Frank, risking their own safety in the process.
To those in hiding, the word hero wouldn't be strong enough for men like van't Land.
"I hope that I don't give you the impression I want to be a big shot," van't Land says. "There were hundreds of
people that were so brave."
Almost all of the Dutch population was angry when the Nazi army occupied their country in May,1940, perhaps mad
enough to fight, van't Land recalls. But they didn't and German troops made themselves at home for what would
be a five-year stay in Holland.
As a 37-year-old livestock feed businessman in the community of Epe in the Gelderland, van't Land
watched with horror as the Germans began extracting food and other supplies from his country,
to be shipped back to the motherland.
Jewish property was confiscated, and bright yellow stars began to appear on the coats of the Jews.
The shipments out of Holland soon took on a human form, as night roundups by German police and soldiers collected
Jewish families for the eventual trip to German gas chambers, recalls van't Land.
Young Dutch men, usually between 18 and 30 years old, were sent to German war factories to fill in for the many men
serving in the Nazi army. Three of van't Land's nephews never returned.
"People just about had a heart attack when there was a knock at the door after 8 p.m.," says van't Land of the Nazi
roundups.
Pleas for help came from those looking to hide, and van't Land, guided by Christian morals, wasn't about to turn anyone away.
"What would you say'?
If the businessman couldn't hide these "divers," he would refer them to one of his hundreds of customers who could
help. People were hidden in basement compartments with false walls. They were given smuggled food rations,
and young men were given old farmers' clothes to conceal their identities.
On one occasion, while attempting to get rations to several Jews hiding at a farmhouse, van't Land and a friend were
almost caught.
"All of a sudden we heard vehicles coming to the farm and then in no time they (Nazi officials) were knocking at the
door and bursting it down." The Jews were hidden in a hay loft with a secret door just in time.
Miraculously, the Germans searched without success and finally left. Van't Land's companion was almost speechless,
except to say: "Let's pray. "I'm convinced that for every minute that the love of God protected me", van't Land says.
Today, a tree in Israel grows in tribute to van't Land's efforts.
Van't Land, who had spent several years in North America as a young man and had learned English. also became an
obvious candidate for the resistance movement to help Allied forces in Holland.
A U.S. army watch he still proudly clutches is evidence of his many encounters with Allied pilots who came down over
Holland.
"I went to a lot of the pilots and asked them what they wanted to do," he says, often hiding them or helping them escape the
country.
"This was hazardous and sometimes reckless work."
Van't Land remembers locating Allied soldiers in bushland areas by walking along whistling the Canadian national anthem.
Close calls were also a part of those efforts. Van't Land recalls being, involved in an operation with pilots and spies
who wanted to capture German soldiers to operate a secret electric generator.
The group scattered after surprisingly bumping into and being detected by German soldiers. Van't Land hid in a
hay loft and the barn was surrounded.
It was in that hay loft that van't Land remembered the scheme to escape that early Mennonite leader Menno
Simons had used in Holland to avoid being detected.
Simons acted like a farmer on a cart and the police didn't recognize him.
Van't Land donned coveralls, wooden shoes and a fork, threw open the barn doors and walked unscathed past
gun-ready Nazi soldiers outside.
His assistance to the Allies was recognized after the war when he was presented with a certificate at the American
embassy in Holland. It reads: "The president of the United States has directed me to express to Cornelis
van't Land the gratitude and appreciation of the American people for gallant service in assisting the escape of Allied
soldiers from the enemy." It's signed Dwight D. Eisenhower, General of Army Commanding General United States Forces
European Theatre.
Only 21 other Dutch citizens received such certificates.
For a short time, van't Land fed information on German operations in the area to an English spy hidden in his
attic with a secret transmitter.
"He was sending his messages to England and the Germans were walking the streets."
Van't Land's luck eventually ran out after three years of such activity. The Nazi security police got wind of his
work and he was forced to go underground in 1943. He remained that way for 2 1/2 years.
Fortunately, the businessman was warned and when the police arrived they found only van't Land's wife, Alice,
nursing a child, which apparently influenced them to leave without interrogating her.
Van't Land saw his wife only a few times over the next several years, as he hid in the countryside with a group
of undergrounders, moving, about mostly at night.
Van't Land's fascinating story didn't end when Allied forces liberated Holland. Unhappy with tight post-war regulations, he decided he and his family should emigrate to Canada.
Emigration was prevented, however. after repeated medical tests detected a spot on his wife's lung, which
had remained with her after a bout of pneumonia as a youngster.
Van't Land was almost prepared to forget his emigration desires. Then he remembered Capt.George Knottenbelt,
a London pilot whom he had spoken with after the pilot parachuted into the area during the war.
Van't Land contacted him and Knottenbelt sliced through the red tape. In a week the Lands had received
permission to emigrate. They came to Canada in 1950 and eventually became dairy farmers in the area.
Looking back on his experiences in Holland, van't Land says "every war makes beasts of men." "If I talked for a whole
day I couldn't give you an idea of what it's like in an occupied country," he says. "You can't imagine what it's
like to walk every minute and every day with fear in your
heart."
Geboorte:
Kind:
Cornelis van 't Land
Geslacht:
Man
Geboorteplaats:
Zwartebroek
Geboortedatum:
zaterdag 24 oktober 1903
Vader:
Jan van 't Land
Leeftijd:
32
Beroep:
Landbouwer
Moeder:
Jannetje van 't Hof
Beroep:
zonder beroep
Gebeurtenis:
Geboorte
Datum:
zaterdag 24 oktober 1903
Plaats:
Zwartebroek
Documenttype:
BS Geboorte
Erfgoedinstelling:
Gelders ArchiefGelders Archief
Plaats instelling:
Arnhem
Collectiegebied:
Gelderland
Archief:
0207
Registratienummer:
31020
Registratiedatum:
26 oktober 1903
Plaats:
ZwartebroekCornelis getrouwd Aaltje van den Born on 20 mei 1932 (civil)inBarneveld, Gld, NL. Aaltje (dochter van Willem Hendrik Hendrikus van den Born en Gijsje Doppenberg) was born on 16 jul 1904 in Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 5 okt 1993inCanada. [Gezinsblad]
2. Jan van 't Land was born on 24 sep 1871 in Terschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL (zoon van Cornelis van 't Land en Hendrikje Zegers); stierf on 25 mei 1957inTerschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL; was begraven inTerschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL. Andere gebeurtenissen:
- Recordnummer: 10611
- _NEW: 13 feb 2007
Aantekeningen:
Geboorte:
Kind:
Jan van 't Land
Geslacht:
Man
Geboorteplaats:
Zwartebroek
Geboortedatum:
zondag 24 september 1871
Vader:
Cornelis van 't Land
Leeftijd:
44
Beroep:
dagloner
Moeder:
Hendrikje Zegers
Leeftijd:
37
Beroep:
zonder beroep
Gebeurtenis:
Geboorte
Datum:
zondag 24 september 1871
Plaats:
Zwartebroek
Documenttype:
BS Geboorte
Erfgoedinstelling:
Gelders ArchiefGelders Archief
Plaats instelling:
Arnhem
Collectiegebied:
Gelderland
Archief:
0207
Registratienummer:
6436
Registratiedatum:
25 september 1871
Plaats:
Zwartebroek
Overleden:
Begraafplaats
Naam: Begraafplaats Weserveld
Adres: Leemweg Terschuur
Persoonslijst
Naam geboren overleden leeftijd
Jan van't LAND 24-09-1871 25-05-1957 85
Zerkinformatie
Zerk id-nummer 218925
Begraafplaatsnr. 429
(Plaats)aanduiding 0102
Voornaam Jan
Achternaam Land van 't
Begraafplaats Terschuur
Geboortedatum 24-09-1871
Overlijdensdatum 25-05-1957
Geboorteplaats
Overlijdensplaats
Foto Id 8068Jan getrouwd Jannetje van 't Hof on 10 mrt 1899inBarneveld, Gld, NL. Jannetje (dochter van Eibert van 't Hof en Evertje van den Brink) was born on 10 feb 1874 in Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 9 okt 1930inBarneveld, Gld, NL. [Gezinsblad]
3. Jannetje van 't Hof was born on 10 feb 1874 in Barneveld, Gld, NL (dochter van Eibert van 't Hof en Evertje van den Brink); stierf on 9 okt 1930inBarneveld, Gld, NL. Andere gebeurtenissen:
- Recordnummer: 10612
- _NEW: 13 feb 2007
Aantekeningen:
Overleden:
Bron Burgerlijke stand - Overlijden
Archieflocatie Gelders Archief
Algemeen Aangiftedatum: 09-10-1930
Aktenummer: 107
Gemeente: Barneveld
Inventarisnr: 8087
Soort akte: overlijden
Toegangnr: 0207
Overledene Jannetje van 't Hof
Geslacht: V
Overlijdensdatum: 09-10-1930
Overlijdensplaats: Barneveld
Vader Eibert van 't Hof
Moeder Evertje van den Brink
Partner Jan van 't Land
Relatie: echtgenote
Nadere informatie geboortepl: Barneveld; oud 56 jaar; beroep overl.: zonder beroep; beroep vader: geen beroep vermeld; beroep moeder: geen beroep vermeldAantekeningen:
Getrouwd:
Bron Burgerlijke stand - Huwelijk
Archieflocatie Gelders Archief
Algemeen Aktenummer: 18
Datum: 10-03-1899
Gemeente: Barneveld
Inventarisnr: 6421
Soort akte: Huwelijksakte
Toegangnr: 0207
Bruidegom Jan van 't Land
Leeftijd: 27
Geboorteplaats: Barneveld
Bruid Jannetje van 't Hof
Leeftijd: 25
Geboorteplaats: Barneveld
Vader bruidegom Cornelis van 't Land
Moeder bruidegom Hendrikje Zegers
Vader bruid Eibert van 't Hof
Moeder bruid Evertje van de Brink
Nadere informatie beroep bg.: landbouwer; beroep bruid: zonder beroep; beroep vader bg.: geen beroep vermeld; beroep moeder bg.: geen beroep vermeld; beroep vader bd.: landbouwer; beroep moeder bd.: zonder beroepKinderen:
- Heintje van 't Land was born on 26 jan 1900 in Zwartebroek, gem. Barneveld, NL; stierf on 31 mei 1987inAmersfoort, Utr, NL; was begraven on 4 jun 1987inTerschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL.
- Evertje van 't Land was born on 19 feb 1901 in Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 19 mrt 1901inZwartebroek, gem. Barneveld, NL; was begraven on 22 mrt 1901inVoorthuizen gem Barneveld, Gld, NL.
- Evertje van 't Land was born on 25 jan 1902 in Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 25 apr 1984inRheden, NL; was begraven inEllecom, Rheden, Gld, NL.
- 1. Cornelis van 't Land was born on 24 okt 1903 in Terschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 8 okt 1981inCoalhurst, Alberta, Canada.
- Eibertha van 't Land was born on 12 mei 1905 in Terschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 12 feb 1954inNijkerk, Gld, NL; was begraven on 16 feb 1954inNijkerk, Gld, NL.
- Evert van 't Land was born on 1 okt 1906 in Terschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 27 mei 1980inBarneveld, Gld, NL; was begraven inTerschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL.
- Hendrika van 't Land was born on 5 nov 1909 in Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 18 jun 1991inApeldoorn, Gld, NL; was begraven on 22 jun 1991inEpe, Gld, NL.
Generatie: 3
4. Cornelis van 't Land was born on 5 dec 1826 in Nijkerk, Gld, NL (zoon van Evert Lammertsz van 't Land en Annetje Jansen Spelt); stierf on 6 sep 1892inZwartebroek, gem. Barneveld, NL; was begraven on 10 sep 1892inVoorthuizen gem Barneveld, Gld, NL. Andere gebeurtenissen:
- Recordnummer: 10523
- _NEW: 11 feb 2007
Aantekeningen:
Overleden:
Bron Burgerlijke stand - Overlijden
Archieflocatie Gelders Archief
Algemeen Aangiftedatum: 07-09-1892
Aktenummer: 139
Gemeente: Barneveld
Inventarisnr: 6373
Soort akte: overlijden
Toegangnr: 0207
Overledene Cornelis van 't Land
Geslacht: M
Overlijdensdatum: 06-09-1892
Overlijdensplaats: Zwartebroek (Barneveld)
Vader Evert van 't Land
Moeder Annetje Jansen
Partner Klaasje van de Kuijlen
Relatie: echtgenoot
Nadere informatie geboortepl: Nijkerk; oud 65 jaar; wedn.v. Hendrikje Zegers; beroep overl.: landbouwer; beroep vader: geen beroep vermeld; beroep moeder: geen beroep vermeldCornelis getrouwd Hendrikje Zegers on 25 feb 1864inBarneveld, Gld, NL. Hendrikje (dochter van Jan Zegers en Trijntje van den Heuvel) was born on 22 feb 1834 in Ede, Gld, NL; stierf on 24 apr 1874inZwartebroek, gem. Barneveld, NL; was begraven on 28 apr 1874inVoorthuizen gem Barneveld, Gld, NL. [Gezinsblad]
5. Hendrikje Zegers was born on 22 feb 1834 in Ede, Gld, NL (dochter van Jan Zegers en Trijntje van den Heuvel); stierf on 24 apr 1874inZwartebroek, gem. Barneveld, NL; was begraven on 28 apr 1874inVoorthuizen gem Barneveld, Gld, NL. Andere gebeurtenissen:
- Recordnummer: 10587
- _NEW: 13 feb 2007
Aantekeningen:
Overleden:
Bron Burgerlijke stand - Overlijden
Archieflocatie Gelders Archief
Algemeen Aangiftedatum: 25-04-1874
Aktenummer: 41
Gemeente: Barneveld
Inventarisnr: 6375
Soort akte: overlijden
Toegangnr: 0207
Overledene Hendrikje Zegers
Geslacht: V
Overlijdensdatum: 24-04-1874
Overlijdensplaats: Zwartebroek (Barneveld)
Vader Jan Zegers
Moeder Trijntje van den Heuvel
Partner Cornelis van 't Land
Relatie: echtgenote
Nadere informatie geboortepl: Ede; oud 40 jaar; beroep overl.: zonder beroep; beroep vader: geen beroep vermeld; beroep moeder: zonder beroepAantekeningen:
Getrouwd:
Bron Burgerlijke stand - Huwelijk
Archieflocatie Gelders Archief
Algemeen Aktenummer: 13
Datum: 25-02-1864
Gemeente: Barneveld
Inventarisnr: 6426
Soort akte: Huwelijksakte
Toegangnr: 0207
Bruidegom Cornelis van 't Land
Leeftijd: 37
Geboorteplaats: Nijkerk
Bruid Hendrikje Zegers
Leeftijd: 30
Geboorteplaats: Ede
Vader bruidegom Evert van 't Land
Moeder bruidegom Annetje Jansen Spelt
Vader bruid Jan Zegers
Moeder bruid Trijntje van den Heuvel
Nadere informatie beroep bg.: boerenknecht; beroep bruid: zonder beroep; beroep vader bg.: landbouwer; beroep moeder bg.: geen beroep vermeld; beroep vader bd.: landbouwer; beroep moeder bd.: landbouwster
Bruidegom:
Cornelis van 't Land
Beroep:
boerenknecht
Vader bruidegom:
Evert van 't Land
Beroep:
Landbouwer
Moeder bruidegom:
Annetje Spelt
Beroep:
geen beroep vermeld
Bruid:
Hendrikje Zegers
Beroep:
zonder beroep
Vader bruid:
Jan Zegers
Beroep:
Landbouwer
Moeder bruid:
Trijntje van den Heuvel
Beroep:
landbouwster
Gebeurtenis:
Huwelijk
Datum:
donderdag 25 februari 1864
Plaats:
Barneveld
Documenttype:
BS Huwelijk
Erfgoedinstelling:
Gelders ArchiefGelders Archief
Plaats instelling:
Arnhem
Collectiegebied:
Gelderland
Archief:
0207
Registratienummer:
6426
Registratiedatum:
25 februari 1864
Plaats:
BarneveldKinderen:
- Evert van 't Land was born on 26 jan 1865 in Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 15 aug 1950inBarneveld, Gld, NL; was begraven inVoorthuizen gem Barneveld, Gld, NL.
- Trijntje van 't Land was born on 24 dec 1866 in Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 6 jun 1899inEde, Gld, NL.
- Annetje van 't Land was born on 25 mrt 1869 in Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 2 sep 1926inBarneveld, Gld, NL.
- 2. Jan van 't Land was born on 24 sep 1871 in Terschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 25 mei 1957inTerschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL; was begraven inTerschuur gem. Barneveld, Gld, NL.
- Teunisje van 't Land was born on 24 sep 1871 in Zwartebroek, gem. Barneveld, NL; stierf on 1 feb 1892inZwartebroek, gem. Barneveld, NL; was begraven on 5 feb 1892inVoorthuizen gem Barneveld, Gld, NL.
- Hendrikje van 't Land was born in feb 1874 in Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 30 apr 1874inZwartebroek, gem. Barneveld, NL; was begraven on 2 mei 1874inVoorthuizen gem Barneveld, Gld, NL.
6. Eibert van 't Hof Andere gebeurtenissen:
- Recordnummer: 10613
- _NEW: 13 feb 2007
Eibert getrouwd Evertje van den Brink. [Gezinsblad]
7. Evertje van den Brink Andere gebeurtenissen:
- Recordnummer: 10614
- _NEW: 13 feb 2007
Kinderen:
- 3. Jannetje van 't Hof was born on 10 feb 1874 in Barneveld, Gld, NL; stierf on 9 okt 1930inBarneveld, Gld, NL.
Generatie: 4
8. Evert Lammertsz van 't Land was born on 10 okt 1791 in Nijkerk, Gld, NL (zoon van Lambert Harmsen van 't Land en Besseltje Jans van Wijnkoop); stierf on 1 mei 1873inAppel, gem. Nijkerk, Gld, NL. Andere gebeurtenissen:
- Recordnummer: 10514
- _NEW: 11 feb 2007
Aantekeningen:
Geboorte:
of 30-11-1791 (doop)?
Overleden:
Gelders Archief - Burgerlijke stand - Overlijden
Toegangnr: 0207
Inventarisnr: 3492
Gemeente: Nijkerk
Soort akte: overlijden
Aktenummer: 59
Aangiftedatum: 02-05-1873
Overledene: Evert van 't Land
Geslacht overledene: M
Overlijdensdatum overledene: 01-05-1873
Overlijdensplaats overledene: Appel
Vader: Lammert Hermsen van 't Land
Moeder: Besseltje Jans
Partner: Annetje Spelt
Relatie partner: weduwnaar
Nadere informatie: dooppl: Nijkerk; oud 81 jaar; beroep overl.: arbeider; beroep vader: geen beroep vermeld; beroep moeder: geen beroep vermeldEvert getrouwd Annetje Jansen Spelt on 20 nov 1818inMaartensdijk, De Bilt, Utr, NL. Annetje (dochter van Jan Jansen Spelt en Teuntje Everse Versteeg) was born on 7 mrt 1791 in Maartensdijk, De Bilt, Utr, NL; stierf on 10 sep 1854inNijkerk, Gld, NL. [Gezinsblad]
9. Annetje Jansen Spelt was born on 7 mrt 1791 in Maartensdijk, De Bilt, Utr, NL (dochter van Jan Jansen Spelt en Teuntje Everse Versteeg); stierf on 10 sep 1854inNijkerk, Gld, NL. Andere gebeurtenissen:
- Recordnummer: 10582
- _NEW: 13 feb 2007
Aantekeningen:
Overleden:
Gelders Archief - Burgerlijke stand - Overlijden
Toegangnr: 0207
Inventarisnr: 3495
Gemeente: Nijkerk
Soort akte: overlijden
Aktenummer: 93
Aangiftedatum: 11-09-1854
Overledene: Annetje Spelt
Geslacht overledene: V
Overlijdensdatum overledene: 10-09-1854
Overlijdensplaats overledene: Appel (Nijkerk)
Vader: Jan Spelt
Moeder: Teuntje Versteeg
Partner: Evert van 't Land
Relatie partner: echtgenote
Nadere informatie: dooppl: Maartensdijk; oud 63 jaar; beroep overl.: geen beroep vermeld; beroep vader: geen beroep vermeld; beroep moeder: geen beroep vermeldAantekeningen:
Getrouwd:
Bron Burgerlijke stand - Huwelijk
Archieflocatie Het Utrechts Archief
Algemeen Toegangnr: 481
Inventarisnr: 246
Gemeente: Maartensdijk
Soort akte: Huwelijksakte
Aktenummer: 7
Datum: 20-11-1818
Bruidegom Evert Lammertsen van `t Land
Leeftijd: 26
Bruid Annetje Spelt
Leeftijd: 27
Vader bruidegom Lammert van 't Lant
Moeder bruidegom Besseltje van Winkoop
Vader bruid Jan Jansen Spelt
Moeder bruid Teuntje Everse VersteegKinderen:
- Lammert van 't Land was born on 15 dec 1819 in Nijkerk, Gld, NL; stierf on 20 jun 1891inNijkerk, Gld, NL.
- Jan van 't Land was born on 28 apr 1821 in Nijkerk, Gld, NL; stierf on 2 apr 1900inEde, Gld, NL.
- Gerrit van 't Land was born in 1824.
- Teuntje van 't Land was born on 12 mei 1825 in Nijkerk, Gld, NL; stierf on 16 dec 1894inEde, Gld, NL.
- 4. Cornelis van 't Land was born on 5 dec 1826 in Nijkerk, Gld, NL; stierf on 6 sep 1892inZwartebroek, gem. Barneveld, NL; was begraven on 10 sep 1892inVoorthuizen gem Barneveld, Gld, NL.
- Hermanus van 't Land was born vóór 4 sep 1828 in Nijkerk, Gld, NL; stierf on 4 sep 1896inUtrecht, Utr, NL.
- Besseltje van 't Land was born on 8 mrt 1831 in Nijkerk, Gld, NL; stierf on 9 jul 1875inHolk, gem. Nijkerk, Gld, NL.
- Evert van 't Land was born on 9 okt 1835 in Nijkerk, Gld, NL; stierf on 11 okt 1835inAppel, gem. Nijkerk, Gld, NL.
10. Jan Zegers was born in 1793; stierf in 1870. Andere gebeurtenissen:
- Recordnummer: 10588
- _NEW: 13 feb 2007
Jan getrouwd Trijntje van den Heuvel. Trijntje was born in 1809; stierf in 1887. [Gezinsblad]
11. Trijntje van den Heuvel was born in 1809; stierf in 1887. Andere gebeurtenissen:
- Recordnummer: 10589
- _NEW: 13 feb 2007
Kinderen:
- 5. Hendrikje Zegers was born on 22 feb 1834 in Ede, Gld, NL; stierf on 24 apr 1874inZwartebroek, gem. Barneveld, NL; was begraven on 28 apr 1874inVoorthuizen gem Barneveld, Gld, NL.