1

The fallen resistance people in Limburg

 

Neeltje Brouwer

∗ 29-08-1914 Benschop, Utr.     † 12-09-1983 Winschoten, Oldambt (Gr) (69)
- Civil Servants - Underground Press - Pilots’ helpers - Couriers of the Resistance - Survivors - Women in the resistance - Geulle -

The birth and death dates of the Koers-Brouwer couple can be found on geni.com. [1]

She and her husband Klaas Koers began their resistance work by distributing the orthodox reformed resistance magazine Trouw. Evert Bakker, also a resident of Geulle [2] and a tax official in Sittard, was the main distributor of Trouw for South Limburg up to and including Sittard. [3.1]
The current newspaper Trouw, the successor to this resistance newspaper, devotes special attention to her in the article Who were the 298 ‘Women of Trouw’? A quote:
Neeltje Koers-Brouwer (August 29, 1914 - September 12, 1983) and her husband Klaas Koers from Geulle, Limburg, gave shelter to all kinds of resistance fighters. They coordinated the distribution of the underground newspaper Trouw in the region and organized Trouw weekends in their home. Through Trouw, they also began to take in pilots and smuggle them across the border. Koers-Brouwer took on courier services and distributed the newspaper. In an interview in the 1980s, she said: “In fear, you need the closeness of God. Immediately after the war, when this tension fell away from me, I found it very difficult. I could hardly get used to it. [4]
In chapter 4 of Het verborgen front, Cammaert describes the activities of the couple Koers-Brouwer and Evert Bakker as pilot’s assistants. Geulle is located directly on the Meuse. [3.2]
See also their story on Air Forces Escape and Evasion Society:
Original text Chapter 4: The Organisations, $ 4.3.7. The Koers family.
Or here: Neeltje Brouwer & Klaas Koers.

Footnotes

1. geni.com Neeltje Brouwer
2. oorlogsbronnen.nl Geulle
3. Cammaert, A. P. M. (1994). Het verborgen front: Geschiedenis van de georganiseerde illegaliteit in de provincie Limburg tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.
   1. Hoofdstuk 11, Illegale pers, pp.1057-1058
   2. Hoofdstuk 4, Hulpverlening aan geallieerde piloten en hun bemanningsleden, pp.329 ff.: De vluchtroutes vanuit Echt
4. Wie waren de 298 ‘Vrouwen van Trouw’?
5. https://image.trouw.nl/239846867/width/640/k