Corrie ten Boom Museum, War memorial and museum in central Haarlem, Netherlands.
The Corrie ten Boom Museum is a war memorial and museum in central Haarlem, housed in a 17th-century residence with a distinctive clock gable facade. The building once served as a watchmaker's shop and workshop, and the rooms remain much as they were lived in.
During World War II, this family sheltered refugees by constructing hidden compartments within the house walls. They were eventually discovered, but their rescue work saved many from persecution before the war ended.
The museum shows how an ordinary family in this town resisted occupation and protected their neighbors during wartime. The rooms tell the story of everyday courage and how regular people made difficult choices.
The house has narrow stairs and tight spaces, so comfortable shoes and a willingness to navigate steep steps are helpful. Tours operate in rotating groups, so arriving early helps you join the next available departure.
The hidden room was only about 20 inches (50 cm) wide yet sheltered up to eight people at a time during dangerous periods. Visitors can still see and enter this cramped space, gaining a sense of what refugees endured there.
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