Daniel Johannes Huygens, born in Utrecht, Holland, in 1908, is recognized as an unsung hero of World War II for his courageous efforts in hiding Jewish families from the Nazis. During the German occupation of the Netherlands, Huygens and his wife, Lydia, transformed the upper story of their house into a refuge for Jewish friends, despite their hairdressing salon being frequented by German and Dutch fascists and situated opposite the SS headquarters.
The couple’s efforts began in 1942 when the political situation in the Netherlands grew perilous for Jewish residents. The Huygens family initially hid the daughter of the Hijman family, who were their regular clients and part of a discussion group Daniel had started to talk about the dangers of Nazi Germany. Over time, the number of people they sheltered grew, including Miep Degen, her sister Beppie, and her husband Barend, all of whom were at high risk of being captured by the Gestapo.
Despite the constant danger, the Huygens family managed to protect their hidden guests through various means, including quick thinking during police searches and temporarily taking in children before relocating them to other safe houses. Their bravery and resourcefulness were instrumental in saving the lives of several individuals during the Holocaust.
After the war, in 1950, the Huygens family emigrated to Australia, where Daniel wrote his autobiography, “Opposite the Lion’s Den,” detailing their wartime experiences and the daily hardships they faced while hiding their Jewish friends (Brandl). Daniel and Lydia were honored in 1989 with the Yad Vashem award for the Righteous Among the Nations, and a tree was planted in their name on the Avenue of the Righteous in Jerusalem. Daniel Johannes Huygens passed away in Sydney in 1995 .
Source: Wikipedia
