On Friday 3 November, the book ‘De Keien - Rotterdam students between trade and resistance 1940-1945’ was presented. The book tells the extraordinary story of eight students who together formed the year club 'De Keien' and became involved in the resistance in Rotterdam. "I have already heard many fascinating stories about World War II in Rotterdam," Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb said at the presentation. "This book too does its bit to colour the war in Rotterdam, this time from the perspective of students."
September 1940. Rotterdam is in ruins from the bombing and eight students begin their studies at the Nederlandsche Economische Hoogeschool, a forerunner of Erasmus University Rotterdam. They join the Rotterdamsch Studenten Corps and form the year club 'De Keien'.
One by one, they become involved in various resistance groups. In these, they cooperate with students from other associations, communists, dock workers and sailors. Their student boarding house at 21a Claes de Vrieselaan becomes an important centre of the Rotterdam illegality. Frits Ruys eventually even grows into a resistance hero - he is betrayed and shot in late 1944. Meanwhile, the young people continue their student life as usual: they study, go out dancing, hold hazing parties and make friends.
Resistance in times of collaboration
While students were risking their lives, however, the business community was collaborating with the Germans on a large scale. Using the story of the eight boulders, author Merel Leeman recounts the history of wider student resistance in Rotterdam, and she sheds light on the central question: how does one enter resistance in a port city that lives off trade with the German hinterland?
Karel van der Mandele
The book also contains new information on Karel van der Mandele, influential businessman, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and one of the members of the founding board of the Nederlandsche Handels-Hoogeschool (NHH), a forerunner of our university. He was a leading figure during reconstruction of Rotterdam, but worked closely with the German occupation forces during the war. Rector Magnificus Annelien Bredenoord said at the book launch: "We are a university that wants to make an impact in society with knowledge. And then it may be the case that you highlight a page of history that may not be so pretty."
About the author
Merel Leeman is a historian and literary scholar. She obtained her PhD and taught at the University of Amsterdam, conducted research at Columbia University and wrote for several newspapers and magazines, including NRC, De Revisor and De Groene Amsterdammer. De Keien was co-authored with help and funding from Erasmus University Rotterdam and the Erasmus Trust Fund and is published by Atlas Contact.
- More information
Read more at AD Rotterdam (in Dutch)
Read more about the book 'De Keien' at Atlas Contact