Casper ten Boom

The watch shop located on the ground floor of a building in Haarlem became an unlikely epicenter for resistance activity during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Casper ten Boom, a longtime watchmaker and member of the Dutch Reformed Church, utilized his residence to shelter those targeted by the regime, including Jewish individuals seeking refuge from persecution.

Early Life and Business

Born in 1859, Casper ten Boom was the son of Willem ten Boom, who operated a watch shop in Haarlem. At age 18, Casper established a jewelry store in Amsterdam, where he also initiated social work under the program Tot Heil des Volks. He eventually returned to Haarlem, settling into a property that served as both a commercial workshop and a family home. In 1884, he married Cornelia Johanna Arnolda Luitingh. The couple raised four children: Betsie, Willem, Nollie, and Corrie. Following his wife’s death in 1921, Casper continued to live and work in the Haarlem building alongside his two unmarried daughters.

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Resistance and Sheltering

The Ten Boom family held strong religious convictions regarding human equality. Beginning in 1918, they frequently acted as foster parents to various children. During the occupation, the household became a center for assisting Jewish people. In May 1942, Casper accepted a Jewish woman into his home, declaring that God's people were always welcome. He notably wore a Star of David to identify with the persecuted population. His children participated in these efforts as well; his son Willem, a minister, facilitated shelter for Jews at a nursing home, and his daughters provided support for those in hiding.

Imprisonment and Death

On 28 February 1944, the Gestapo raided the Ten Boom residence, arresting Casper, his children, and his grandson Peter. Authorities detained approximately 30 people associated with the home and transported them to the Scheveningen prison. When interrogated, Casper refused to cease his activities, stating that he would continue to open his door to anyone in need. He maintained that dying for his efforts would be an honor. On 9 March 1944, at age 84, Casper ten Boom died at the Hague Municipal Hospital after nine days of incarceration. He was initially buried in the dunes of Scheveningen before being moved to the National Cemetery of Honours in Loenen.