With the launch and the distribution of a limited edition of  LOST – The quest for Jan van Boeckel this project has really come to an end. Initial reactions are:

“I am impressed by the depth and thoroughness of your research”
“The book is so attractively designed and with copies of the remaining letters and documents included it has become a jewel”
“Your book is beautifully executed. I am fully impressed by the appearance and the depth and breadth of your research”
“Clever how you keep it exciting. Well written. Accurate description of an era”
“The book looks wonderful! And the content is also very good. What a job it has been.”
“Well written, huge amount of research, beautiful book”
“You write so empathically about Jan, and you master the English language so well. Well done!”
 “Your cover and layout show your artistry”
“You produced an excellent book. You are a very talented author”

During the past week I have been able to provide copies to some archives and libraries in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. My aim was to make sure that this part of Dutch WWII history would not be lost. I believe I have succeeded. I leave you with a collage of images made during this quest.

Ebrach monestary

Tunnel at Enclos des Fusillés – enclosure of those shot by firing squad, Liège

The Herou rock at Nadrin with view over the Ourthe river

A Diever morning

New information panels places at the subcamp Saal location in 2016

Haarlem

Engreux

Guide during a walk to the Wigny camp location in the Ardennes

Blok 24 Enclos des Fusillés – enclosure of those shot by firing squad, Liège

Jakob Haiblum looking up his name in the Flossenbürg prisonerbook

The wall at the Leitenberg, Dachau

Abundant growth, Leitenberg

Book at Flossenbürg with the names of all the former inmates

The forest behind Mechelen-Wittem

Location of the former improvised crematorium at subcamp Saal

Enclos des Fusillés – enclosure of those shot by firing squad, Liége 2

Lange Veerstraat, Haarlem

Cegesoma, the Belgian war archives

Cover of book

Launch of Lost-The quest for Jan van Boeckel

Enclos des Fusillés – enclosure of those shot by firing squad, Liége

A melting icicle at the Leitenberg

Jan’s brother (Broer) looking at the book voor the first time

Sea in The Netherlands

Rails at Nürnberg

The view Jan had from the house he stayed at on the Klompven in Oisterwijk. The large villa on the opposite bank as the location where German Airforce officers were billeted.

Draft version of Lost-The Quest for Jan van Boeckel

Guardians at Enclos des Fusillés – enclosure of those shot by firing squad, Liège

Location of former subcamp KZ Saal an der Donau – Ring Me

Winter detail, Germany

The Entrance and SS headquarters at KZ-Flossenbürg

Archive material

Reflections, forest Germany

Branches in the snow, Germany

Enclos des Fusillés – enclosure of those shot by firing squad, Citadel de Liége. Vincent Longton

Stone wall, Germany

Wounded tree, Germany

Lowtide Dutch coast 2

Railway line between Frankfurt and Nürnberg

View towards the field where the former subcamp Saal was situated

Near the Mill of Rahimont

Launch of Lost – The Quest for Jan van Boeckel

Reflections 3, Berchtesgaden

Bavarian golden fields

Heerenhof Mechelen-Wittem 2

Haarlem from above

Saal an der Donau

View from the Blinkert dune towards Café Kraantje Lek

Winter forest, Germany

Reflections near Berchtesgaden

Reflections near Berchtesgaden

Café Kraantje Lek

Lifeless tree Mechelen-Wittem forest

Lock on the gate at the large cathedral at Ebrach

Railway line at Saal 2016

View towards Mechelen-Wittem from the forest

Autumn leaves with grid shadow

Lowtide Dutch Coast

Melting icicle, Leitenberg, Dachau 2

Railway line and roads at Saal, 2016 3

Gurgling stream near Wigny, Ardennes

Railway line at Saal an der Donau

The Noordoostpolder

Bonnerue, Ardennes

Road near Wigny, Ardennes

Poppies along the Donau, near Regensburg

Tower at the Heerenhof, Mechelen-Wittem

Drawing of Ebrach monastery, 2017, WVE