Hasselt (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Hasselt is commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War Il liberation with events at Kasteel Rijsdaal, highlighting local history and resistance efforts, including support for downed Allied pilots.
Greta Grosemans, a member of the village council in Spalbeek, is very dedicated to remembering and celebrating the liberation. She feels a strong connection to this history because her father took part in World War II. His experiences have inspired Greta to be committed to this cause. Her father lived close to a local castle and helped Russian soldiers who were hiding in the woods nearby. He would hang food in the trees so the soldiers could get it without being seen. This brave and caring action is a big reason why Greta wants to honor the efforts made during the liberation and make sure that these important contributions are remembered and celebrated in her community.
How did the Dutch Resistance in Rijsdaal support Allied pilots during World War II?
It has been said that during World War II, the resistance in Rijsdaal was very active. One important thing they did was keep a phone line open to London. This was crucial for organizing their work and sharing important news with the Allied forces. The resistance members also helped pilots who crashed. When Allied planes went down, local resistance fighters would help the pilots who managed to parachute out. They made sure the pilots didn’t get caught, gave them a safe place to stay, and helped them escape from the occupied areas. They kept the pilots safe until they could be rescued or reach the Allied forces.
Frank Vanstreels is in Spalbeek for the liberation celebrations, and he has studied the history of the war, especially The Second Army Division, which was the American group that liberated Hasselt. This division moved quickly after landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy, with some units staying in Hasselt until December and at Rijsdaal Castle. Frank also ensures that reenactors portray the war accurately, paying attention to details like license plates and proper markings, because those details are important.
The castle belongs to the Van De Sande family now. Patrick Van De Sande bought it with his family in 2018 and made it look really nice. He is happy to open it for the liberation celebrations because he found out that a special piece of music was made for the castle. When they first got there, an older man came by, and they became friends. One night, he told them about a box of old photos in the attic. Inside, they found a picture of the carillon player from Hasselt, along with a thank you note. This man had hidden in the castle during the war, and he wrote a march called “Marche pour le Château de Spalbeek” to show his gratitude.
