Dancing in war

Dancing in War

Met dank aan NOVATO(Noordwijkerhout Van Toen) Geschreven door Jan Immerzeel

In the book "Van Verdeger tot Verdegaal & Vertegaal" by Bert Hogervorst is the following story about the house in the photo below, told by Lucy Duivenvoorde-Verdegaal. This house used to be located at Herenweg 210, later due to renumbering it became 338. Now it is called Tespellaan and is number 53.

Originally, this is a farmhouse with a thatched roof from 1874, which was destroyed by fire around 1929. In its place comes a large house with attached bulb barn. The attic of the bulb barn is about 9 meters wide and 20 meters long. Huge.

At some point during World War II, dancing was no longer allowed in the venues set up for that purpose. But you are young and you want something (even in those days), so plans arise at the Verdegaal family (De Ponk) to organize clandestine dances in the attic. Pete Jr. is in charge and brother Cor is at the door for the entrance. Music is provided by a drummer and an accordionist. There is no shortage of interest; young people from the village and the very wide surroundings (as far as the Veen) attend on Sunday afternoons. They can get coffee or lemonade, but no drinks. Sometimes there is drink, but it is hidden for later because when it is discovered by Cor or Piet, there is soon no more drink, but delicious fresh water. However, the dancing is not appreciated by everyone. A pastor somewhere in the Veen speaks shame about it in his sermon, with the result that it only gets busier.

What about the Germans? After all, it is a form of gathering after all. In De Zilk lives an officer nicknamed "Lange Berg," who makes sure everything goes smoothly. When he hears that a raid is being held, he passes it on neatly and there is no dancing. In this way, many a person had fun anyway.

This story was written down by Lucy based on stories told by her mother, Bep Verdegaal-Moerkerk, wife of Cor Verdegaal and aunt Truus Versteege-Verdegaal. They fortunately remembered some things. When people heard her name and where she was from, they told stories about dancing during the war. And it is a pity that with the death of people, stories also disappear.