The Hiding Place Summary

In the Dutch city of Haarlem, in 1937, a celebration marks the centenary of a family-owned watchmaking business. This family, consisting of a father and his children Corrie, Nollie, Willem, and Betsie, are deeply religious and known for their benevolence. They are aware of the rising tension in Germany under Hitler but cannot foresee the looming horrors. The memoir follows Corrie's life from her sixth to twenty-first year, her unrequited love, familial losses, and the discovery of her nephew Peter's musical talent. They also hire a German employee, who is later dismissed due to his anti-Semitic views and disrespectful conduct.

In 1942, life changes drastically after the Dutch surrender to Germany in 1940. The family starts hiding Jews and other endangered individuals in their home, known as the Beje, even going as far as building a secret room for added safety. They find an ally in a police officer named Rolf. As the Nazi presence increases, the city's tension escalates, leading to the family's arrest and transportation out of Haarlem. In prison, the women are separated from the men. Corrie learns of her father's death and befriends a sympathetic lieutenant. During her time in prison, she carries a small Bible given by her sister around her neck.

The prison is evacuated, and Corrie is reunited with her sister, Betsie. They are sent to a camp for political prisoners where they endure atrocious conditions and inhuman treatment. Despite the adversity, their faith remains unwavering. As winter sets in, the already appalling conditions worsen. Betsie falls ill and is admitted to the hospital. Upon her return, the sisters are assigned to the knitting room, where they engage in prayer and Bible reading. Betsie has visions of a post-war life of service but sadly passes away before liberation. Corrie, who is released due to a medical condition, returns to Holland and continues to carry Betsie's vision of helping war-damaged people, eventually taking over a former concentration camp as a relief site. This memoir concludes with a brief account of Corrie's life after the war, her work with refugees, and her death in 1983.