Sydney Jewish Museum | Detaljer | Het Boek von Liesbeth Prins II

Sidebar content	Main content
Handlinger Visningsindstillinger	Het Boek von Liesbeth Prins II Remove from selection Add to selection ObjektnummerM2005/050:002 TitelHet Boek von Liesbeth Prins II BeskrivelseLiesje (Liesbeth) Prins was born on Christmas Day, 25 December 1937, in Amsterdam to Suze and Nico Prins. Shortly after her birth, her mother began writing a diary (in Dutch) in an exercise book. By May 1939 she had filled the book and began another. They document Liesje’s development from birth until 1942 when the diary abruptly ends. Inscriptions reveal the depth of a mother’s love and joy at her growing child and are a window into their family life until their deportation to Westerbork and ultimately to Auschwitz, where five-year-old Liesje was murdered immediately upon arrival, together with her parents on 22 October 1943. Golden tufts of her hair is taped onto two entries, and close to 100 photographs throughout are further tangible proof of Liesje's existence. The entries in Diary number two provide detailed observations of Liesje’s milestones, family outings, and her social environment during a time of looming war. Family members, like Oma (grandmother), various aunts, and family friends, frequently visit, bringing gifts and humour into Liesbeth’s life. Liesbeth’s growing vocabulary, her first attempts at walking, the vegetables she will and won’t eat, tantrums thrown “about nothing” and her playful interactions are endearing highlights, reflecting the normalcy and joy found within her daily routines. Snapshots of her with family in various settings, such as outings to Bergen or playtime with friends like Lia, capture the affection and attention showered on her by those around her. Her mother’s worries for the frequent high temperatures and childhood illnesses are also documented, as are anecdotes such as “The first time that I dressed you in it [a winter suit] a bit of the skin of your neck got caught in the zip. And now you have a mortal fear of it.” As Liesbeth grows older, subtle references to historical events, particularly the effects of World War II, emerge, blending with her innocent perspective. For instance, she notices the "star" her parents wear, oblivious to its significance, and hears unsettling conversations about Jewish families facing hardships. This juxtaposition of innocence with the backdrop of impending wartime hardships adds nuance to the narrative. Yet, the diary remains focused on Liesbeth’s development — her journey through toddlerhood, family traditions, and celebrations, underpinned by her mother’s love. ProduktionsstedAmsterdam, Netherlands Produktionsdato 1939 - 1942 Emnechildren, victims Objektnavnjournals Materialepaper Mål width: 210.00 mm height: 160.00 mm depth: 10.00 mm Sprog Dutch THE BOOK OF LIESBETH PRINS BOOK II May 1939 25 June 1 ½ year –23 pounds 3 ounces. New years Eve upwards to 26 pounds- 2 years March ’41 32 pounds. Dec ’41 nearly 37 pounds- 4 years. 6 May 1939 Three snapshots Baby in pram Man and baby sitting on wall Man with baby on his shoulders Caption : Dongestraat 6 May 1939 Two snapshots Two women holding two babies. Caption: Lia and Liesje Baby in pram. Caption: The politician! Three snapshots Baby in highchair 6 May 1939 May 1939 (Translators note: This paragraph is repeated from book I) You are very fond of your Daddy. All day you call out ‘ Daddy’. Sometimes you are allowed (Translators note: starting book II) to sit with him on his bike and then he cycles with you around the block Then you call out-‘we he,we he!’ ‘We’ is a rough translation of ‘mooi”(Translators note: ‘mooi’- beautiful) 31 May This afternoon I felt in your little mouth, and Yes , in your left upper jaw a molar has arrived. Daddy had made a whole series of snapshots of you .One of them we have enlarged and framed for Opa. Oma Kogel is 14 days in Bergen with Aunt Bets. She will be longing for you. We will quickly send het a photo of you. 11 June The last couple of days you take a lot of trouble to stand on your own. Sometimes you succeed, although straight away you plop down on your fat bottom. And about time little lady, almost 1 ½ years. You are definitely not a quick one! Uncle Les Citroen has also made a couple of snapshots of you, these were made in the livingroom and came out very nicely. You dribble a lot and you have problems in your little mouth. It seems to me that molar number two is giving you a lot of problems! Oma is still in Bergen and is coming home tomorrow. For the month of August she has rented a cottage in Bergen and we will be going there. I think Ineke Blom will be coming too. Nice for you. Hopefully we will have good weather and you can bake yourself brown. As a matter of fact brown you are already, because we have a couple of beautiful sunny weeks behind us. In the morning you are in your playpen on the verandah and in the afternoon, after your nap, we go riding. Four snapshots of baby in a highchair Caption between first two photos:’End of May ’39’ Caption under first photo:’An aeroplane’ Caption under second photo:’Lazy’ Caption between the four photos: ‘Liesje at her country estate’ Caption on the top of third photo:’What kind of a face will I pull?’ Caption on top of fourth Photo:’In deep thought’. Four snapshots of a baby in a highchair. Between the two top photos: ‘End of May ‘39’ Caption under first photo:’Bravado’. Caption under second photo:’Coquet’. Caption under third photo:’ Fun’. Caption under fourth photo:’Serious’. Oval snapshot of baby in a highchair Caption on top of photo:’End of May ’’39. This snapshot has been made by Daddy, and we have had it enlarged for Opa’s sixtieth birthday. You are starting to talk now a bit more. You say something like:’Ga je mee’ (Translators note:Are you coming)and when I ask you ‘What are you of Mammie’ you say’baby’ very clearly But the word ‘vliegmachine’( Translators note:Aeroplane).you can not say as well as Julia in the Hague . Oval snapshot of baby standing in a highchair Caption on the top ‘End May ’39 25 June Today you are one and a half-year-old and since two days you can really stand on your own. You have worked exactly half a year from standing while holding on to something to standing on your own. The day before yesterday you have played for the first time in a sandpit. Namely at Mrs De Bruin in the Rubensstraat. We almost died for laughter! At first you found it terrible scary and you did not move from your place. But later you found it wonderful and you have played so well with Joostje, who was very sweet to you. All the time he wanted you to stay with him, and he was very sorry that you had to go. And you did not like it either, because when I picked you up out of the sandpit, you yelled and screamed. You can trip along now holding one hand, so you are improving. Fortunately you like all the summer vegetables as, beans, peas and broadbeans. Three snapshots Two of a baby sitting in a highchair. One of a baby siting on a man’s knee. Caption above first photo:’The apple and Eve’ May ’39 Caption next to first photo: Made by Uncle Les Citroen. Caption next to second photo:’In the livingroom’. . 26 June Today you got your first pair of shoes, white molieres (Translators note: Molieres a style of shoe) from Tunten (Translators note: presumably the name of a shoe shop).It is a present from Aunt Ro .You found it a bit strange ,but you have to get used to it soon , so that one of these days you can quickly walk in it. 4 July Your second molar has come through. In your lower jaw. You have gotten a pair of ‘every day’ shoes from Oma Kogel. The little white shoes we will keep for ‘special occasions’. You also have gotten a ‘swimsuit’ Recently you are starting to play the ‘clown’and the funny part is, that when everybody laughs, you find yourself so very funny and you laugh the loudest of all about your own folly. 8 July A historical date! Your very first steps on your own! From the livingroom doors to the chair in the livingroom. A good year and a half old. This afternoon Oma and Daddy have bought a little stroller for you to sit in You find it nice to sit in it but especially to walk behind it and to push it by yourself. It is a lovely cream coloured stroller and it rides very easily. The last two days when you lie in your bed you cry instead of sleep. You can understand how impressed pour Mammie is. I quietly let you go on yelling and at the usual time that you are supposed to wake up, you can come out of your bed. You are not achieving anything with that young lady! Wonder who will hold out the longest! 22 July Luckily you are sleeping well again in the afternoon. One and a half-hour, so that is amply sufficient. You are having a terrible cold but fortunately you are not ill at all. This afternoon a little thread of cotton.was lying on the floor and you picked it up and walked at least six steps around with it a lovely sight! Oma Kogel is ill and it looks rather serious, probable nephritis. Let us hope that she will be better soon, because in just over a week we are going to Bergen! For somebody of your capacities you are holding quite some conversation. You - Mee je mee”- Are you coming with me? Me- Where are you going? You - Out. Me- Where to? You - Oma Me- Bye Liesje You- Ta mammy. During a conversation like that you push your stroller through the passage. This afternoon you climbed in your stroller yourself. You are becoming a real tourist! 11 August Bergen Karel de Groote laan 38. Since the First of August we are residing at out country-seat! Oma, Daddy, Ineke, Fien (who is our domestic) ,you and I. You are liking it enormously. A pity that the weather is not very good. The moment it is better we are going riding or you are allowed to play in the beautiful big garden. There you pick up the gravel and you share it with everybody. There are little lumps all over your body, which are itching. We went with you to the paediatrician in Alkmaar, And you have gotten powders and a potion. You are very good and sweet here, and often you are trying to have the whole lot of us laughing, in which you naturally succeed. In the evening Ineke feeds you, and then I say to her ‘Juffie” (Translators note: Missy) and you call out ‘Muffie’. In the morning you wake up very early and you keep yelling:’Mammie- Come- daddy- come’ We have a lovely house here but it is a bit noisy. In the morning when you are calling you are waking the whole household. Snapshot of a baby in gardenchair Caption: Bergen –Aug.’39. This snapshots has been made in the garden in Bergen. The little sunsuit you are wearing you got from Aunt Ada. You are making quite some progress with walking, and you are beginning to like it. You have really lots of room here to learn it Here you have cut your eyetooth. 14 Aug. The last three days you have made enormous progress in your walking, you are not crawling any more. You find this very interesting and naturally we are very pleased that you are walking so well. You went with us to the beach. The first time you thought it very sandy and dusty and you did not like it at all. All the time you wanted to sit on my lap. And the moment you felt some sand on your hands or your feet you started to whine. But the second time you were used to it and you thought it splendid. You were digging and you gave every one little shells as a present. But you did not trust the very loose sand. But that will come. We now have another guest, Sonja Polaks. So another person who adores and spoils you. You will feel let down in Amsterdam young lady, when there will not be so much notion taken of you. When we go to the beach, Daddy put you on his shoulders you sit there high and dry. You like that very much! Then you start singing and everybody laughs to your parents because you are so happy! It goes already much better with your itch. The chemist has prepared the powders from Doctor Schoo from Alkmaar and it seems they are helping you. July ’39. Two snapshots of two children. One baby sitting in a stroller and a toddler is pushing. Caption : Two little neighbour girls Lia and Liesje on their walk. Liesje has gotten a little stroller and Lia like to be pushed around in it. July ’39 Four snapshots First photo : a woman and a toddler pushing the stroller. Caption: With Mammie behind the stroller. Second photo: A toddler pushing the stroller. Caption: Back view. Third photo: A man with a toddler at his hand; Caption: At Daddy’s hand. Fourth photo: A woman with a toddler pushing the stroller: No caption. 30 Aug. We are again in Amsterdam and earlier then we had planned. The Netherlands government has mobilised its army and we thought it advisable to depart from Bergen. A pity, because it was so lovely there and we had every day beautiful weather. The last couple of weeks we took you now and then in the sea. You liked that very much, that is playing in the little sea. But you found the waves scary. On our return trip in the car you were very droopy and warm and several times you fell asleep. When we arrived home I immediately took your temperature and you had 38.6. I put you to bed and rang Dr. Arons.He established a cold and a red throat. Luckily this illness lasted only one day. You have slept and drank it off. Bergen Aug.’39 Three snapshots of a toddler sleeping and playing in sandbox. Four snapshots of a toddler in playpen. Bergen Aug ’39 Caption: Liesje on the 7th of August. A National day of celebration of the birth of Princess Irene. Snapshot of a woman holding a baby Aug ’39 Anita almost five month Caption: Aunt Annie has sent you this photo out of Indie.(Translators note: Dutch East Indian ) Snapshot of a man and a baby sitting in the water. Bergen Aug.’39 Caption: With Daddy in the sea, Very nice but a bit scary! 6 Oct Again it is winter. The heater is on and every body has a terrible cold. You too are sniffing lustely. The last couple of weeks you have started to grow so much. You try to talk now in sentences for instance:’ What a weather hey’! I have bought a very nice winter suit for you. A dark blue overall ,with a zip. You look very nice. The first time that I dressed you in it a bit of the skin of your neck got caught in the zip. And now you have a mortal fear for it. But luckily you re used to it now. Oma has knitted a very sweet bonnet and two mittens. This afternoon you got a nice doll from Aunt Ro. And you are really playing with it. You hold a little spoon for its little mouth and you say ‘Hap poppa’. Also you fiddle a bit around with the little doll’s clothes. You are a real girl. Vain and coquette. When somebody says to you that you wear a beautiful dress, then you stand up and show how well it becomes you. The newest whim: you don’t want to eat any vegetables. Very annoying and in the evening I sit al least three times longer to cram it in you mouth. Often you wear a little corset to hold up your stockings. I can honestly say that during the day you are ‘dry’. You are actually asking when you want the pot. Only when you have had your nap in the afternoon you wake up soaking wet! 11Oct. Your vocabulary enlarges is continually . Sometimes it is a scream to hear how you pronounce the words. Other people don’t understand a syllable! Also you lisp a bit. You are turning in a right little ragamuffin and you try to wind your father and mother around your little finger. When daddy feeds you and you don’t want to eat ,he pulls an angry face, with the result that you start laughing at him. But all those caprices do not bring you very far. You have another whim. When we are both in the living room and as soon as you see that I sit in the little chair, you want to climb on my lap. Yesterday morning you have yelled for half an hour, because you could not get what you wanted! For all that you are very sweet and cute and you play with almost nothing. For instance a cup with a spoon. When there is a little bit of sugar and some water in the cup, you lick that to the bottom and you share it with all your dolls and bears. This afternoon I discovered, that you possess some power of combining. You saw your stroller in the passage. The bag, which was in it, was wet from the rain. When you felt that you said:‘What a weather hey!’ Four snapshots Bergen .Aug ’39 The Dahlialane in the K.d.G.Avenue First two photos : a toddler walking in the garden Caption: ‘What many ants’ Snapshots three and four a toddler playing in the sand Caption: ‘At the beach’ B/a Z (Translators note: Bergen at the sea.) 13 Nov Slowly but surely the little baby that was you, is disappearing. You are turning into a real little girl, with a little head with golden blond curls. You are growing now and you are not such a little fatty anymore, but you are a bit taller and slimmer. Last week I asked Dr de Bruin to give you a check up, because I thought that lately you are looking a bit pale, and you have no appetite. He thought you are a lovely healthy girl and fortunately I don’ have to worry about anything. I have made a little booklet for you with pictures about jam. You really like that! Also we have given you a mop. The whole day you aremopping. You are terribly fussy (except about your nappies). Your language is very nice. For ‘l’ you say a ‘k’ (kekker hey)(Translators note:’lekker’ –tasty) For an ‘s’ a ‘f’(kuffen)(Translators note: Kussen - To kiss or a pillow). I can understand you pretty well. But strangers cannot make out much of your jabbering. The words, which previously you have pronounced wrongly , you can now say well.For instance,for ‘voet’(foot) you said ‘voe’-for ‘tien’(ten) –ie. You understand everything what we say to you and you know exactly what you can and cannot do! You are a real Mammies child and you like to sit on my lap and have a cuddle. A real sleepyhead you are too. In the afternoon you sleep mostly from One o’clock till three thirty. Lovely! Now you are reading in the Libelle (a women’s weekly magazine).There is a photo of Beatrix and Irene ( Two Dutch princesses.). You call them Beatis and Ijien. In the nude you weigh precisely 25 pound. The last couple of days you are very scared. Things you found exciting previously scare you now. For instance sitting on Daddy’s shoulders or on the seat of the bike or little gymnastic exercises. It is a pity, We hope that this will be temporarily and will soon be over. In the two years of your existence you have had so many whims which all have blown away. You will never become a heroine that we have found out a long time ago. 27 Nov Last week you have gotten a cane dolls pram from Aunt Saar . You found that so grand that out of sheer emotion you could not sleep. You are a bit clumsy making the pram up with blankets and pillow.. Last week on Daddy’s birthday you were wearing a beautiful new dress. Aunt Roo brought it along for you and you looked so sweet. You did not take much notice of all the visitors. You sat quietly in your little chair and table pouring tea. And you gave everybody a cup. Even ‘Bam Kok’ was not deleted from your repertoire. I think you have the same imperturbable sense of humour as your father. He doesn’t easily get excited (only when it is about you). For when he comes home in the evening it is one big cuddle feast. You edge your little chair as close to him as possible and you climb all over him. You are fond of me as, for instance, when you wake up in the night. Then you have more interest in me than in Daddy. But that is the only time. 29 Nov. This afternoon you have been inoculated against diphtheria. When the nurse disinfected your arm with ether you made such a terrible din! Lia who came with us was more heroic. She did not utter a sound. The 20 Th. December we will have to go back. So then we will have again a ‘pleasant’ outing! You start to develop your imagination. This morning you were playing with the little brown bear. All of a sudden the bear had to stand in the corner, because he had wet his juijer’ (translators note: juijer- luier-nappy) He was ‘tout ewees’ (translator’s note: tout ewees-stout geweest-been naughty). Although you are a real Mammie’ child, you are going out very nicely with other people. For instance you go on your own to play with Lia, while Lia does not come here without her Daddy or Mammie.So as far as that is concerned you have more (Translators note: This sentence has not been completed) 12 Dec We have the Saint Nicolas feast behind us and of course you have been terrible spoiled You got two little chairs and a little table a couple of aprons, dolls, a dress and also two books. I am reading out of these to you and you like that very much! Especially the little rhyme of ‘Pietje Pierewietje’ (translators note: A ‘nonsense’ children’s rhyme) You know it already a bit and you can say the last words. You are very interested in the pictures. Although you are starting to talk well, your pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired. For instance you are saying always ‘Kas’,’vas’ Instead of ‘kast ‘en ‘vast. (Translators note: ‘kas-kast-cupboard,’vas-vast- almost’). This I have tried to get into your little brain with the result that you now talk about ‘poest’ instead of ‘poes’(.Translators note: Poes –puss-cat), naturally to everybody’s amusement. Daddy has bought you a new pair of shoes. Your other shoes are now too small for you. You are very proud of the new ones and you show them to everybody and you say ‘mooie soenen’ (Translators note: ‘soenen-schoenen-shoes’). 27 Dec. Well, we have a whole series of feastdays behind us. Christmas fell on a Monday and Tuesday and then with the Sunday, that was three days holiday. Saturday and Sunday you stayed with Oma Kogel .You slept there two nights and it went very well! You slept in Annetjes little bed ,so that was a double treat! You can understand how happy Oma Kogel was! Very early on the morning of Christmas, Daddy has picked you up with the car. Because on your second birthday we wanted to have you home with us early. Just as last year your bankbook has been replenished. And again you have received presents. A dressing gown, shoes, a book and a box with blocks, hankies, an apron,, mugs filled chocolates, a counting frame, small coat -rack,a pyama. For that matter you did not care about your birthday because when I wanted to wake you at four in the afternoon you did not feel coming out of bed. You would have rather stayed in bed and you wanted another snooze. But when Lia came to congratulate you, then it was really a great feast for you! In the evening the two Oma’s and Opa stayed here for dinner so you did not suffer from too less attention. Now I have to write a little joke: In the morning I had switched the radio on to listen to the general view of politics. The lady who spoke coughed and you said immediately’ Oh, A.N.P.has a cold”(translators note: A.N.P. - Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau-Official Dutch Press.) A small lock of hair is stuck on the page. 8 Jan. Now we start to notice that we are getting a big daughter! At Newyears eve the three of us went to the ‘Schubert straat’ and there we had a real Newyears eve party. We had taken your little bed with us, and at half past seven we tucked you in bed and after that we did not hear you anymore. Till the next morning half past seven. You were a real sweet darling and Uncle Sam and Aunt Ali would have liked to keep you a while longer. We could not understand that you did not wake up, because downstairs it was such a noise. We were with twenty altogether. Yesterday we took you to Alkmaar. (Translators note: Alkmaar – a city north of Amsterdam). There you could renew your acquaintance with Yvonne.You played so lovely together. Yvonne is a dear little child .The whole day she says nothing else than ‘dag’ (Translator’s note:’dag’-goodday.). All the time you gave her little kisses and in the afternoon you had your nap in her bed. You were very happy in the train and in the evening you were just as alert as in the morning when we left. We were home at eight o’clock and naturally you went straight to bed were you had a good and long sleep. Your ‘language’ improves by the day. You start to express yourself well, not as well as Julia, but she is such a smart little thing, compared with her, you are still a baby. When you wake up in the morning the first thing you say is: ‘Ben je droog’?(translators note: Ben je droog-Are you dry) Most of the times that is not the case and you do not take too much notice of it. Neither do I! It will happen one day. The last couple of days have been freezing and during the night just as last year, we have put you again in your sweater with the sewn up sleeves. Fortunately as far as that is concerned we can do these kind of things with you. I said to you: ‘Look Liesje what lovely blue hands you have ‘ and you thought that fantastic. And in the evening you are going very happy to sleep with your sewn up little sleeves. 20 Jan. Today is a big feast -day for you. You received a load of toys. Julia has departed to America with her parents, and now you got a lot of her toys. We have not given you everything at once, we were afraid it would be overwhelming. There are two rocking horses, One large one and one small doll’s rocking horse. A beautiful dog, a doll and best of all a ‘grand piano’. Well, you have been spoiled again! For Uncle Max ‘s birthday we have made a photo of you. It looks a little bit dark, but it is sweet. Almost a whole week we haven’t been out. It is terribly cold outside and we both have a cold. One day you have educated your Father instead of he you. And you were quite right about it. You picked up his napkin, and you gave it to him with the words: ‘Here you are Daddy’- No answer. And again ‘Here you are Daddy’-. Still no answer then you said- ‘What do you say then Daddy?’ ‘Thank you Liesje!’ Well you are getting wise! You become a real gossip. In the morning you ask me if Aunt Ro is coming to visit you, then I say –‘No not today Liesje’ And a little while after that- in a real ‘gossipy -voice’ you say-, Mammie, Aunt Ro has dirtied her nappy.’For you that is the worst thing that you can say from anyone, so when Aunt Ro did not come you had immediately your gossip ready. Last week you had your second inoculation against diphtheria. 9 Febr. ’40 You have been ill. You have had very nasty infection in your stomach and intestine. One can notice that on you. You lost quite some weight and you don’t look well. To top that off the whole month of January has been terribly cold and you have scarcely been outside. All that has helped towards it, that you look so white and weak. Now you are at a birthday party at Lia’s, who is today two years old Lia is very sweet and sometimes you take unfair advantage of her kindness. Once in a while you are a bit catty. Luckily Lia doesn’t take too much notice of that. Because you have been ill you have been a bit spoiled, and we noticed that immediately. You were troublesome,whining and tearful. You threw a tantrum about nothing. It gets a little bit better now, because I have taken you vigorously in hand.And that was necessary! How quickly you can become troublesome and naughty! 22 Febr. After your tummy upset you have started eating very well. It seems almost as that you feel you are weak. and nobody is happier than I. Because that worry with eating I find awful. It looks that the terrible cold weather is over. And about time too. We have had our share. Everyday we are going out again. This morning you have been playing so sweet with Aunt Ali’s little dog. That is the one toy you like most. It is such a lovely sight when ‘Tommy’ has to ‘sit up’, and you put a biscuit in his mouth. You can express yourself pretty well, but instead of the ‘r’ and ‘l’ you say a ‘j’. Plenty of songs and rhymes you can sing and recite and without help! All the rhymes out of the book by Rie Cramer(Translators note; a well kown children’s authoress),the book you have gotten from Aunt Ada and several songs out of the books of Aunt Ro’s Aunt Suus. Also little songs from Jacob Hamel (Translators note:Jacob Hamel, who was a conductor of a radio Childers choir which was broadcasted life every Tuesday afternoon). ‘Daar komt Jaap de Groenboer aan’ (tranlators note: ‘there is Jaap the greengrocer’) ‘Marietje krygt zangles’(translators note: ‘Marietje has singing lessons’) ‘Flipje heeft een slecht geweten’(translators note: Flipje has a bad conscience’). You are learning them quickly by rote. It is more than I expected of you. I did not have such a high opinion of your intelligence. To be read to and story telling is a treat. Siting next to Mammie and Mammie reading from the book of Aunt Suus that is the best hour of the day. In the evening when we have finished eating you say;:’Mammie , can Daddy smoke a little cigar?’ And then you present him with one and you put the ashtray next to him. For a reward you get the cigar-band. 18 March At last it seems we are getting Spring. Today was a positive relief after all the cold, snow, frost and rain. For you it is very nice too. You don’t need to stay so all the time in our small living room, at last you are getting some ‘Lebensraum’ (Translators note: Lebensraum- space to live). You can walk everywhere and you like being in the kitchen with Fien. Last week Oma Kogel had her birthday and we visited her the whole day. You slept there over night, which was for Oma her best birthday present. You simply slept in the folding bed, so we did not have to make too much fuss over you. Now we can get rid of you anytime we want! 16 April I have not written in a whole month. You are such a big girl now and there is very little news to write about. You talk a lot, with or without mistakes and very well to understand. Also you are now sometimes naughty and stubborn which is not so nice. Nevertheless we are having very little problems with you and on the whole you are sweet and obedient. Every child is naughty once in a while and you as are a very normal child you are no exception. It is a pity that only during the day your are dry. During the night it is hopeless. When we lift you up in the evening, you are almost always wet and you scream when you have to sit on the pot. I have never found you dry in the morning. When I had my birthday we farmed you out again with Oma. You like that very much. For my birthday I got a little bicycle seat for you. So from now on we are going together out on the bicycle .We both enjoy that very much and we are going now more often away, because it is so much easier than with the stroller. You can pronounce the letter ‘l’ now. Oma brought you a nice little dress and she said: ‘Look Liesje isn’t this a nice little ‘jurkje’ (Translators note” Jurkje- little dress) whereupon you commented:’It is not ‘jurkje’ Oma it is ‘lurkje’. Quite often you make us laugh. You become so clever and so perky. When Lia plays with you, you are terribly strict with her. She is not allowed to put her finger in her mouth because that is dirty. In the meantime your own thumb is almost flat from sucking. Lia is much softer and more timid than you are and she let herself be bossed. I let you both muddle on as long as it does not become too bad. Sometimes you really act like an only child. As soon as possible you will have to go to school, where you can learn how to play with other children. With sweets you are open-handed enough, but your toys are really yours and you can not share them easily. 28 April This week we bought a summer outfit for you. Namely a little blue coat and a small hat. You look so lovely in it and you are very proud if it. Since a couple of weeks you are not sitting in the highchair any more. At the table you sit in the little chair, we have been able to borrow from the family Wafelman. 9 May At last we have a bit if summer, although we still have the heater on. But the sun is already warm and in the morning you play downstairs in the garden at Sambo’s together with Lia. We have great plans for the coming Whitsuntide. The three of us have been invited by Oma and Opa to go with them to Schorel. You are not even two and a half years old and you are going to stay in a hotel! Spoiled little monkey! I hope you will be good and you will behave yourself so you will be a credit to us. Now you are wearing summer dresses and short socks. You are madly in love with your own knees and arms, because all the time you give yourself little kisses. Again you have gotten a pair of white summer shoes. Your feet have not grown. Still the same size namely almost 21. When you are on the bicycle with me you feel obliged to sing on top of your voice. Specially ‘Flipje heeft een slecht geweten’(Translators note: ‘Flipje has a bad conscience’) and ‘Marietje heeft zangles’(translators note: Marietje has singing lessons’) .you shout on top of your voice from your high throne. Four snapshots: First snapshot two ladies with a little girl Second snapshot a little girl. End April ‘40’ Caption in between first and second snapshot: ‘End April ‘40’ In between the four snapshots is written;’ Liesje in winter outfit’ Third snapshot a little girl with a dolls pram.’ April ’40’ Fourth snapshot two little girls with dolls pram:’Lia and Liesje April ‘40’. Portrait of a little girl;’Jan.’40’ Two years Four snapshots First snapshot; A lady with little girl on the bicycle Caption:’Liesje on the bicycle’ Second snapshot; A lady sitting on a wall holding a little girl Caption: ‘Beginning of May ’40.’ Third snapshot : a little girl walking. Fourth snapshot: a little girls waving. Caption at the bottom of the page:’What do you think of my new hat and coat?’ 14 June Nothing much came of out Whitsun plans. In the night of the Nine to the Ten ‘s war broke out and we have experienced very frightful days. We stayed for a couple of days at Oma’s. Because of all the misery you were not your usual self. You were very cranky and nervous. Previously you would easily and quietly go to sleep in a pitch-dark room, but due to the obligatory darkening of the windows you became afraid of the dark, and you woke up crying during the night. Now we are again at home and luckily you have picked yourself up again. Of course in those days you have been a little spoiled and we have to be bit strict to get all the whims out of you. Moreover you were not too well. In one week you vomited twice in the evening. We still do not know what coursed that. At Oma’s you had a very bad fall off a chair and also you have been eating very much. You look still a bit white. We can not fetch Dr de Bruin any more. He has looked so well after you. In the beginning of May he has died. We hope we will be able to do without a paediatrician. Lately you have grown quite a bit and you are not such a fat little blob any more! 20 Aug We have been out for a couple of days. To Utrecht at Aunt Bep and Uncle Wim’s. You have been a very good girl and you have enjoyed it very much. Of course you thought the lift was very interesting, and the shop and in the morning in the big ‘grown up’ bath. Everything was very beautiful and interesting. Once I cycled with you to Zuilen. There is a very nice park, with birds, deer, rabbits and guinea pigs. You thought that fantastic! The last day all of us spent the whole day in Zeist. There you could play so nice in the forest in an imaginary ‘sandpit and Vondelpark (Translators note: a park in Amsterdam) Here you have acquired a new friend. Marietje has come to live next door to us. She is a bit younger than you are and she can not speak so well, that is why you get better on with Lia. We are having a cold and unpleasant summer, almost no nice warm days. You are not looking half as brown as last year. I believe you are mending your ways This week twice you woke up ‘dry’! And about time too young lady! You have a bit of a quick-tempered nature. Sometimes you can become very angry and headstrong. When you don’t get your own way you try with screaming and yelling and kicking to get your own way! Let us hope that that will disappear in due time because it is not a nice side of your character. 8 Sept. You have gotten your first’Cleanliness present From Saturday to Saturday you have been ‘dry’. Together we went and bought a doll in a dolls-pram’. You could chose yourself which one you wanted and you have chosen the smallest doll in the shop and I bought you a little pram and you were overhappy. So let us hope that you have really mended your way and that I will not find wet pants anymore when You wake up in the morning. Two snapshots of a little girls in a garden with washingtub. Aug ’40 Caption: ‘In the garden at Aunt Mary’s’. Aug ’40 Three snapshots. Two of a little girl playing in the forest. One with two ladies and a little girl. Caption: ‘In a forest in Zeist’ Two snapshots First picture of a little girl in a park. Caption:’Bosch Zeist’ (Forest in city Zeist) Second picture of a family in a tea garden. Caption:’Jagershuis’( Hunting Lodge) From the time that you used to play with Lia in the garden downstairs dates this little ‘lark ’. I heard that you had such great fun. And I just thought ‘I go and have a look’ and you both were sitting with a chicken leg in your fingers and sucking merrily. I got such a fright and rushed down stairs where you welcomed me with’ We are eating chicken mammie’. Fortunately there were no nasty consequences. Oct ’40 Daddy:’Liesje you never do a little wee in your bed anymore so why did you do it this night?’ Liesje: ‘Now that is quite common Daddy, out of my little hole’. Liesje:’Mammie, I have ‘now a days’such a pain in my hands’. Nov.’40 ‘Mammie, I have to shave myself with my ‘Gilette’. Nov.’40 ‘Have you ‘darkened’ the bedroom?’ Dec’40 ‘Liesje tidy up your toys please!’ ‘ All right!’ Dec ’40 ‘Oma are you not going to play ‘bridge?’ 28 Oct Today Opa Blom died. It was almost as if you felt that he was seriously ill, because you were very sweet to him these last couple of weeks. You tiptoed through the house and often you went in to stroke him and gave him little kisses. He loved you so very much and he was sorry that he was not able to see your little face better. 12 Nov. This week we have had a little lark with you. We don’t know exactly how it happened, but I think you have been standing on top of your chair. Anyhow I heard a loud bang, and when I looked around I saw you lying on the ground with blood on your face. Your little teeth had pushed through to your chin. Quickly Daddy wrapped you in a blanket and took you to the doctor in the ‘Deurloostraat’ It was a deep cut and it had to be stitched. Now the little stitch is out and we put a band-aid on it to let it heal. In any case your looks will not have improved with all this and we hope that the scar is not too visible. Because of your ‘accident’ you have been terribly spoiled and every body came with presents. But the very best present you got from Meyer Kersen, namely a little shop. It has made you so very happy. It is indeed a very lovely present. Especially the paper cents are to your liking. In the morning when we go shopping you take your own ‘kottemonnee’(translator’s note:Porte-monnaie= purse)with you to ‘vertalen’(Translator’s note: Betalen=to pay) You are still wearing the same over-all from last year. It still fits you. Because we were very worried that woollen clothes will become very scarce, we have bought a lovely grey and blue ‘complet (suit)’ for you. You have now plenty of clothes. Aunt Ju has given you a pretty blouse and two very nice little dresses. Oma has stitched a navy blue overall and you can wear with that a blouse or the little sweater, which I bought for you. Several last years’ dresses still fit you. And Aunt Bets has knitted a very warm dress for you. 21 Nov.’40 You have been with Daddy to the hairdresser. And he has cut off all your little curls and now you are a little ‘jonnetje’(translator’s note: Jongetje- little boy.) This is the first time that something has been done to your ‘coiffure’. It did not grow very well and perhaps it is just as well that the scissors were set to work. All in all your ‘beauty ‘has not improved, although you look quite cute. You have received a couple of books.’ Winkeltje spelen’(translator’s note:’ To play shop’ ) you know by heart.It is really quite sweet when Lia read to you or you to Lia. It doesn’t make any sense. You telephone each other and you are doing that very well. Dec ’40 We haven’t told you a lot about Saint Nicolas. First we think you are still a bit small, and you are at the moment so placid and calm, it would be a pity to confuse you. But of course so here and there you have picked something up and sometimes strangers ask you; ‘Have you received a little present from St. Nicolas in your shoe?’ The image you have of Saint Nicolas is a very strange one indeed. For instance you found in the hall a small piece of string. You came enthusiastically in the room: ‘Oh look Mammie now I have found Saint Nicolas’ We were with you at the Toy-department in the ‘Byenkorf’(translator’s note- ‘Byenkorf’ is a department store ) You thought it was wonderful and you were all eyes.Because of St Nicolas you were allowed to choose a teaset .and top it off we went into the restaurant for a cup of coffee and you naturally got chocolate. There is only one friend you find interesting and that is Lia. She is indeed a darling and far too soft for you. Nevertheless you both play very well together. Marietje and Jetje have been here to play with you and you kept asking:’Can Lia come Mammie?’ In other words she is the only one I find amusing. Your friend you are very fond of is Uncle Les Salomons. He is always really very kind to you and he can play so well with you. Even Lia ,who is shy, is very fond of him and she has engaged him as her private reader. 17 Dec ’40 You have been to your very first official birthday party. Eefje v.d. Lyn was three years old and you had been invited to come and play. It seems you have enjoyed yourself, and found it very important, because you told every body, that you have been on your own to a children’s party. Most impressive was the ‘lolly’. And you told me also that you have eaten ‘biscuits on a string’. Your Daddy has presented you with a real bottle of ‘Eau de Cologne.’ You are terrible proud of it. 30 Dec ’40 Your 3rd birthday has been very quiet. You were not feeling very well and in the morning the Doctor came. You complained about your ears and you had a most terrible cough and you sneezed a lot. Now we realise that that was the onset of measles, which we presume you have caught at the birthday party. You have been quite ill and this morning the Doctor came again. You have to stay in bed for twelve days. So that is not so very funny. I hope that soon the temperature will fall, because 36.9 in the morning is a bit scary. On your birthday you have been very much spoiled indeed. Two beautiful dolls, several little books, aprons, a toy , a dressinggown and socks and naturally your bank book is heavier. But the best of all was the dustpan and brush. and the kitchen. Uncle Abram has completely restored Ina’s kitchen for you and it is so beautiful, that I would not mind playing with it myself. 29 Jan ’40 Luckily you have recovered from your measles for a while, and since then you have rolled from one cold into the other. It seems you have this ‘cold condition’ from your Daddy.He has lots of colds. When you are a bit older something will have to be adjusted in your nose. Daddy had the flu for a couple of days and we have farmed you and Oma out to Oma Blom’s . You have been very good there but the last evening you became a bit home sick.(hence probable the wee in the bed) When I heard about that I really got a shock because that has not happened in months. Jan. ‘41 “Mammie do you have some money for in my little shop?’ ‘But you have money in your purse’. ‘No Mammie I would like to have some ‘cold’ money’. ‘Is there any post Mam?’ ‘Yes Liesje’ ‘Something special?’ ‘We are going out in the taxi’ ‘That is something like a little dog, hey Mam?’ Mrt.’41 I laugh myself ‘bang!’ (Translator’s note: bang- Afraid) Mrt.’41 For Oma’s birthday we have made a photograph of you. Understandably she was very happy with it. In the afternoon you do not sleep so long anymore then you used to. I suspect that you are just lying there or just playing a bit. Still, in the afternoon for an hour or so I put you to bed. Once in a while you are terribly smart and sometimes we are speechless hearing your vocabulary. There are not many things in the world you are not afraid of! For instance you are still not coming out of your bed on your own .You find that very scary. You are afraid of the dark, afraid to walk in the snow even to touch it. We will have a word with the doctor about that because that is not normal Sometimes Marietje is allowed to sleep here overnight and that has always gone very well. Marietje sleeps in the big bed and you in your own one. Then one evening all of a sudden Marietje took it into her head, to leave her bed and she made her way very quietly to you. That has given you such a terrible fright that for weeks you did not want to sleep in the same room with her. Again and again you made such a fuss. At last after a lot of trouble I have been able to explain it to you, and now things are back to normal again. But still you go to sleep with the sheet pulled over your head. Really we can not say that you are a nervous child. Usually you are quiet and calm. You can amuse your self well and with other children you can play very nicely. 19 April’41 At last it has come to pass that you can step in and out of your bed on your own. You think you are a real heroine, and you are excessively proud of yourself. You really like to mess about with water. The whole day you play with a little bucket of water, a sponge and shammy. Everyday windows and doors are getting a thorough cleaning. May’41 Translators note: a drawing of a cat. Caption: ‘Poes’.- almost three and a half years old .- ‘roughly translated’ 25 May ’41 Your daddy has spoiled you terribly. Namely he has bought you a little bike. Well you have surpassed yourself, because you are very handy with it. We had not expected this of you. When you saw it you became as white as a sheet out of sheer ‘emotion’, and you became so upset, that you did not dare to touch it. It is a very nice little bike, and we hope that for some time you will have a lot of fun with it. This morning we made you believe that we had given the little bicycle away. Then you went to have a look and you said: “Really ‘ it is still there!’ This week you have been a couple of days in bed because you had a terrible cold. On a morning when you were for a moment in our bed I told Dad :’Ich glaube nicht,das Sie Fieber hat”( translators note: German for:’ I do not think that she has a temperature’) And you replied immediately :’The thermometer does not have to go in my bottom ,hey Mam? 4 June.’41 At the same time as the bicycle we have entered a new stage. Now you are allowed to play with your new ‘steed’outside in front of the door. Of course you find that fantastic. Up till now you have been very obedient, you don’t go off the footpath and you are not going around the corner. Lia is allowed to play in the street too and together you have a lot of fun The second feastday of Whitsun we have made a bicycletrip to Bussum together with the Van Gelders. Marietje and you were both very good and we all had a tan when we came home. At last we are having nice summer weather. The winter clothes have been packed up and you can walk around with bare legs and in thin dresses. I have bought two very lovely dresses for you in ‘The Babyhouse”. Both of them light blue embroidered with tiny little flowers. We have transported you back to your own little room and we hope that you can stay there. During the week you asked me what was ‘marriage and I answered:’Well a gentleman and a lady are going to live together in a little house’ You were quite satisfied with that. But later when you were on the bicycle with Daddy you all of a sudden asked him: ‘Dad, in which little house are we going to live when we are married?’ So you see you have already made your choice. Your rubber bath has done its duty. It was leaking as a sieve. Now we have bought a zinc bath for you with a little tap, so that we can bath you in the kitchen and the bath can be emptied in the sink. How we will have to do that in winter? Well we will see to that but it will not be that easy. We can see on your last years summer dresses that you have grown well. And you are not so fat any more. Nevertheless the last couple of months you are looking exceptionally well and I am very happy about that. July ’41 _ ‘Liesje eat a bit quicker!’ _’ You know Mammie , I am getting a nervous fit about that!’ We are lucky, that there is a little kindergarten opposite us. Although actually you are not allowed to be there, you are just three and a half-year-old, still you are allowed to play nicely in the sand with the other children, which is of course very good for you. You like that very much and so do I. You are very good there and the teachers have no problem with you. It is a pity that we ourselves have no garden with a sandpit because we would not have any trouble with you at all. In school Mrs Marits thinks you are a smart little thing .She did not think that, because you are still such a baby and so soft. Although we are having every night air raids, you quietly sleep on, and you are not bothered with the alarm and the anti -aircraft-guns. You are learning to adapt yourself! The last couple of weeks we have very hot weather and you play in the street and go to school in your sundress. Aug.41 A couple of weeks ago we took you to visit Professor Crefeld, to give you a thorough check up. Fortunately you are a very healthy young lady. Lately you have been looking rather pale, although all day you are outside and you are eating well ( although terribly slow!). But according to The Prof that is nothing to worry about. To look at you, you are a real girl and rather vain. You like to look at your self in the looking glass. Aug.’41 -‘Mammie, what beautiful flowers you have. Do you know what they are called Mam?’ Vermicelli flowers!( Yellow Chrysanthemums). For the first time you have eaten with us in the city, you thought that very interesting. You have told every body that you have eaten in a ‘Fish café’ Once in a while you are very cheeky. For instance you have a sheet of paper and a pencil and you come to me with a very serious little face – _’What is your name?’ _’Where do you live?’ _’That is written down’. Aug.’41 _’Madam, your husband makes music, here in the back!’ Aug.’41 Child of the times! _’Mammie,last night I have dreamed of bombs and then I have gotten such a fright.! _’What are bombs Liesje?’ _’Bombs are ‘ boomers’! _And after that we had Lucht-bralarm (translators note: Lucht alarm=air raid-alarm.) _What is air- raid –alarm? _Well look here, I do not know that! The whole of the month of August we have had rain so we do not have to be sorry that we were not in the country. You use such big grown up words, as, reusachtig (gigantic),-kolossal(colossal), absoluut(absolute). And you use them very well too. Sept.’41 So now and again, when you have been playing with the children in the sandpit in the school , you are allowed to go inside. And of course you think that is fantastic. Last week you came home with a little paper hat, which the young lady in the school had made for you .You were so proud of that! You have taken Marietje with you to the sandpit and she loves it so much, but Lia is not to be persuaded. She prefers to play with Robbie in the street. The three of us were a day in Bussum at the Vissers. You have amused yourself there very much. Dorientje and you were great pals and you got on so well together. I have bought already a summer coat for you for next year A light blue one, very nice. Your other one you have worn for two seasons and you almost burst out of it. The last couple of months you have become a lot fatter. Such a pity that you suffer so much of gall lumps and although we have regularly made up powders for you ,they seem to come up again. Oct.’41 Last week we had a real little ‘lark’ with you. Namely you fell off the stoop. Luckily you came out of that all right and you had only a big lump on your head. Playing in the street is finished because the weather is so terribly bad. You have to play inside and of course with Lia. Your last game is “bridgen’(bridge).With an old stack of cards you both sit very self-conceited at a small table. This morning your shoes came back from the shoemaker, who had dyed them brown. When you saw them you said immediately’: The apprentice has done that with his hands, because he is such a brown man.(he is a Negro) You keep on eating very slowly. Nevertheless standing on the scales at Franssen’s this week, you weighed fully dressed 37 pound. That is a good weight. Fortunately you look very well, and you do not seem to take much notice of food rationing. Three snapshots. First snapshot: Three little girls sitting on a wall. Second snapshot: a little girl standing on a wall holding on to the fence. Caption: ‘In front of the school’ Third snapshot: a little girl on a bicycle. Caption:’On the bicycle’. Caption at the bottom of the page: ‘Summer ‘41’ Three snapshots First snapshot: Three little girls standing in the street Second snapshot: Two little girls on a bicycle. Third snapshot: Three little girls against the backdrop of a house. Caption: ‘Summer ‘41’ Three street daisies’. 22 Nov.’41 This week your Daddy had his birthday and now you have become very conscious of the fact that birthday’s mean a great feast! In the morning at seven o’clock you were already awake and there you came tripping in the room with your presents. Immediately we had to sing’Lang leve hoog ‘(Happy birthday). etc etc. The singing is the pinnacle of the feast. The whole day you were in a very good mood and I think that your Fathers birthday has never been so well celebrated as this birthday! You are such a big girl that now and then you spend the whole day visiting on your own. Sometimes at Oma Prins’s and today you were at Oma Blom’s. Naturally on such a day you are terribly spoiled and you come home with all kind of presents. It is now Saint Nicolas time. Every evening standing in front of the chimney, you sing your whole ‘repertoire’of St Nicolas’songs, and you have your shoe ready (Translator’s note: Some weeks before the actually St Nicolas day on the 6th of December, children put their shoe in front of the chimney before going to bed, to find in the morning, that one of the Saints servants has put a special sweet in them. You have been invited to the Saint Nicolas feast at Jetty Woudstra’s. I wonder how that will turn out! Lia and Robbie are coming too. So that will be very nice for you. Now and again you are really too much involved with ‘the Saint’. For instance at one night you woke up and started yelling every half hour if there was something in your shoe. Fortunately lately you are not so shy any more. You are getting on to four. So it is about time that you learn how to behave as a normal human being. In the evening we do not take you up any more to do your wee. Nov.’41 Liesje has been given a very sweet little handbag, and she shows it off to Lia. Very seriously Lia looks it over and fingers it and her comment is-‘Beautiful pure wool-‘ -‘Yes’ says Liesje ,’that is still good quality’! 8 Dec. The birthday of the good Saint has passed off extraordinarily well. It was a real feast at Jetty’s. Ten little children with their mothers. Lia and you have enjoyed yourselves very much. You all sang Saint Nicolas songs. The moment the Saint entered Lia made quite a speech. . She thanked him for all the little presents she found every morning in her shoe. You told the Saint, that you have seen him often on pictures but never real. And to every body’s hilarity you discovered a little hole in the servant Pieter’s stocking. There are not very many presents left for your birthday because all your wishes have been fulfilled. You have gotten a new dolls pram with a pouch in it to let the doll sit up straight. A dolls chair, a coat and bonnet for the doll. A iron board and an iron and more trifles. You weigh almost 37 pound now. When we are at the table and you have to eat, you simulate sometimes little sicknesses. Then you ask for an ‘aspirientje’ and even a ‘stomach pastille’. Once in a while you act like a very opinionated old aunt! We have had visitors. Uncle Lo, Aunt Emmie and Yvonne spent a couple of days with us. You have played nicely with your cousin. Yvonne is a lovely and clever girl, and you went on very well together. In the evening you both sang your Saint Nicolas repertoire sitting on daddy’s lap You know at least ten Saint Nicolas songs and your Oma, who of course, has never heard that of a child, who isn’t four years old, is very proud of you. For her you are forever a ‘wonder kind’.(Translators note: Wonder-kind =’wonder-child’) 30 Dec’41 Your fourth birthday was a real ‘festivity’. The day before your birthday we had organised a children’s party and it went very well. The whole room was vacated and decorated. Moreover we had borrowed from several friends small tables and chairs, so that every child could sit on its own small chair. There were seven children and you have played all kind of games, ‘koek happen’ (Translator’s note: Biscuits are tied on a string and children have to walk under the string and eat a biscuit without using their hands) and aardappel lopen ‘(Translator’s note a race between two children who carry a potato on a spoon and run to a winning post without losing the potato.) etc. With that you have eaten nice sweets, served on your own tea set. You were very grateful for the party. In the evening when you were in your bed, you thanked me for the party of the ‘Four’. Namely, we had glued a big red paper’ four’ on the wallpaper. On your actual birthday you have been terribly spoiled with present’s .I have put¾ of it in the linen- cupboard, otherwise it would have gone to your head. Yesterday I took you again to Doctor Creveld. You keep on eating poorly and without the slightest zest. Nevertheless you look like ‘Hollands Welvaren (Translator’s note: ‘Healthy and bonny’). And I feel a bit embarrassed to walk into his rooms with such a rosy looking and healthy child. But lately you have been vomiting and you complain about your little tummy. You’ve been examined from top to bottom and you are declared very healthy. You are not allowed to sit at the table longer than half an hour, what you have not eaten, is being put away. You are not allowed to have any sweets at all and you have gotten some drops to stimulate the appetite. Also on Wednesday afternoon you go to a gymnastics- club. You know the days of the week in the right sequence. And you count to fourteen. After fourteen comes always eighteen. Snapshot of a group of children with Saint Nicolas and his servant 14 Jan’42 You are now a member of the gymnastics- club of Miss Els Chits, and you like it very much. I hope so that you will become a lithe and fine girl. At home you practise the exercises with Lia Once in a while Lia is teaching you some ‘religious instruction’. For instance last week she told you the story of a little boy, who had died and had gone to heaven. In the evening when we were at the table you said to us- ‘Do you know that when you are dead, you are going to the ‘Hema’.(Translator’s note: hemel-heaven. Hema is the name of a chain of department stores similar to Woolworth.) 5 Mrt We have a deplorable cold winter. It seems there is no end of all the snow and ice. You have gotten a pair of small skates from your Daddy and he has taken you a couple of times with him to show you the ropes. You thought that very interesting. You are still a very slow eater but we follow a new method. When you dawdle over your plate, we take it away and one of us is eating your food. The first couple of times you liked that, because you did not have to eat it. But now that that has happened several times, the gilt is off, and this morning when Daddy had eaten your porridge, there followed a fit of crying. This is just what we have in mind. You are sitting now with your hand around your plate for fear, that we will put your food in our greedy mouths And the best part is that you are eating with relish. You have already said to me-‘When Daddy finishes my food, I am going into the kitchen and take as much as I like out of the saucepan. This week when we had finished our food quicker than you said: Well, boys you have won ,you are getting the prize! April’41 You are sleeping now in a folding bed and that you think is very interesting. We are wearing ‘Stars’ now and we had told you that that is the fashion, and we did not talk about it anymore. But in the morning when we were having breakfast, we saw a rag-man cycling past. Then you said suddenly:’Look Dad, that man has the same thing on his breast as you. Do you know what that is? Those are ‘Joodsche Pakken’ (Translators note: ‘Joodsche Pakken’- suits for Jews). Now a day you hear a lot of Jewish stories. It can hardly be otherwise, because there is so much Jewish talk going around and naturally when you play in the street you hear more than is good for a worm of four and a half years. For instance, one of these days you woke up and you told me, - Last night I have dreamed that all Jewish people lost their jobs. Words you said when you were 1 ½ years old. You do not pronounce them all perfectly. Pappa Mamma Thee- (tea) Fiets(iets)- bicycle. Auto Ga je mee?(a je mee?)- Are you coming with me? Baby Oma Pop(poppa)-doll Woef Duif-(pidgeon) Pols(pol)-wrist Mooi he?(we he?)-Nice hey? Dag!(ta-ta) -hello Bah! Kindje(tindje)-child Fien(ien) Stoel(toel)- Chair Keurig(keug)-nice Paard(paad)-horse Tram(tam)-tram Lia(ia) Schat(sat) -sweetie Piet. Nov. almost 2 years old. Apekop,Ien.Ans,hebben-(to get), vlieg-(fly),Nico,Ina,Fien, bakker- (baker) koffiedrinken-(to drink coffee),Toe dekken-( to tuck one in)Eefje, Juffrouw-(Miss) Most of the names of family and acquaintances. Vogel-(bird),pols-(wrist) Bus,Kaas-(cheese),zeep-(soap),konyn-(rabbit), neus snuiten-( to blow one’s nose). Also little sentences. For instance: Waar ben je Pappie? -(where are you Daddy?) Wat doe je Mammie?-(what are you doing Mammie?) Kom je eten Pappie?-( are you having something to eat Daddy?) Zie je de auto- (do you see the car?) Ikke wakker -( I am awake) Kindjes naar huis toe-( Children are going home) Kindjes naar de shool toe -( children are going to school) Naturally everything is not perfectly pronounced, but well intelligible. End Of Liesbeth Book 2. KreditrammeSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ms Carla Moore

ObjektnummerM2005/050:002

TitelHet Boek von Liesbeth Prins II

BeskrivelseLiesje (Liesbeth) Prins was born on Christmas Day, 25 December 1937, in Amsterdam to Suze and Nico Prins. Shortly after her birth, her mother began writing a diary (in Dutch) in an exercise book. By May 1939 she had filled the book and began another. They document Liesje’s development from birth until 1942 when the diary abruptly ends. Inscriptions reveal the depth of a mother’s love and joy at her growing child and are a window into their family life until their deportation to Westerbork and ultimately to Auschwitz, where five-year-old Liesje was murdered immediately upon arrival, together with her parents on 22 October 1943.

Golden tufts of her hair is taped onto two entries, and close to 100 photographs throughout are further tangible proof of Liesje's existence.

The entries in Diary number two provide detailed observations of Liesje’s milestones, family outings, and her social environment during a time of looming war. Family members, like Oma (grandmother), various aunts, and family friends, frequently visit, bringing gifts and humour into Liesbeth’s life. Liesbeth’s growing vocabulary, her first attempts at walking, the vegetables she will and won’t eat, tantrums thrown “about nothing” and her playful interactions are endearing highlights, reflecting the normalcy and joy found within her daily routines.

Snapshots of her with family in various settings, such as outings to Bergen or playtime with friends like Lia, capture the affection and attention showered on her by those around her. Her mother’s worries for the frequent high temperatures and childhood illnesses are also documented, as are anecdotes such as “The first time that I dressed you in it [a winter suit] a bit of the skin of your neck got caught in the zip. And now you have a mortal fear of it.”

As Liesbeth grows older, subtle references to historical events, particularly the effects of World War II, emerge, blending with her innocent perspective. For instance, she notices the "star" her parents wear, oblivious to its significance, and hears unsettling conversations about Jewish families facing hardships. This juxtaposition of innocence with the backdrop of impending wartime hardships adds nuance to the narrative. Yet, the diary remains focused on Liesbeth’s development — her journey through toddlerhood, family traditions, and celebrations, underpinned by her mother’s love.

ProduktionsstedAmsterdam, Netherlands

Produktionsdato 1939 - 1942

Emnechildren, victims

Objektnavnjournals

Materialepaper

Mål

Sprog

KreditrammeSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ms Carla Moore

Item request date
Expected return date
Destination