Amalia B. testimony 1996

Amalia B. was born in Leeuwarden, Netherlands on August 23, 1939. She recounts her parents’ upbringing. Her mother’s family was religious and her father’s was not. Her father was the director of a milk factory laboratory and one of his lab assistants worked in the Dutch resistance. Amalia was taken to stay with this family. She didn’t go into hiding until 1942 when she was three years old. Amalia doesn’t remember much from when Germany invaded Holland because she was so young. Her parents and brother were separated and hid elsewhere. She discusses her experience in hiding and her relationship with her foster family after the war. Amalia recalls that her parents didn’t share much of their experience with her. She talks about her brother’s experience and learning of her parents’ having a child near the end of the war. Amalia recalls a little of when the Canadians liberated Holland. It was very difficult for Amalia to leave her foster family. She discusses the experience of her family after the war and returning to school. She traveled to Israel where she met her first husband. They married, immigrated to Canada, and had three sons. She discusses having children and her experience raising them in Canada. Amalia discusses coming to terms with her experience while attending a Hidden Child conference in Israel.