About this episode

Lilian van Mourik discusses the preservation of Dutch wartime history and the resilience of local communities during German occupation.

CONTENT The guest today is Lilian van Mourik who has been on the podcast before when we discussed the recovery of  wartime Stirling bomber BK716.  On this one we feature her efforts to preserve the unique wartime history of the Dutch polders through her podcast Holland's hidden heroes and touring business Polder Pathways. She describes how the massive reclamation projects that turned sea into land fundamentally altered the environment and the lives of those in isolated fishing villages.  These resilient communities also resisted German occupiers by hiding Allied airmen in swampy reed beds while maintaining a defiant local identity. The discussion also highlights the strong remembrance culture in the Netherlands, illustrated by the enduring bonds between British veterans and the families who honor their sacrifices. Lilian also explores the technical and social challenges of living below sea level, connecting past engineering feats to modern concerns about national defense and climate change. Ultimately, our talk serves as a narrative of how a man-made landscape shaped human courage and a lasting legacy of gratitude. Lilian's book choice on Desert Islands Dits is…

People in this episode

Guest: Lilian van Mourik

Topics covered

• Dutch Resistance
• Allied Airmen
• Wartime History
• Remembrance Culture
• Climate Change
• Engineering Feats

Keywords

• Dutch Resistance
• Allied Airmen
• Polder Pathways
• Wartime History
• Climate Change
• Remembrance Culture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Holland's Hidden Heroes, Polder Pathways

Books & works: The Camino

Places: Netherlands, Almere, Dutch polders

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