Jenny Jansen 1921-1992
In the famous photo by Wiel van der Randen you see the last woman in the row who seeks cover behind the lamppost. This is my mother!
My mother lived with my father at Weteringschans 84 (3nd floor) and was with many others at Dam Square that afternoon to celebrate the liberation.
In the chaos of the shooting, she lost sight of my father and luckily found him at home later.
She regularly spoke about this event in great detail, also to me (when I was only four or five) and for many years afterwards.
I also still suffer daily from other terrible memories (e.g. the revenge execution at Wetering Circuit which she was forced to watch as a passer-by). People sometimes speak of a second-generation war trauma.
I am now sending two photos, one from 8 February 1947 in which she is standing with me in her arms and one from 11 March 1949 in which she is standing with me and my sister (of six months).
Name of the author known to the foundation.
July 2025
Editors: We have previously received stories from witnesses who used the lampposts on Dam Square to seek cover from the hail of bullets.
It is remarkable that Paul van der Horst stated at the time that his mother is the lady in the photo. And that Paul van der Horst’s parents had told him that he was the child who ran away. However, that is Tiny van der Hoek.
This website also contains stories from George Degenhart, J. Versluys, Jan van Harlingen and Oma van Bragt who sought cover behind various lampposts. And in particular the story of Wim Anderiesen. Wim was hit by a bullet and was still able to hide behind a lamppost.
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