Casper ten Boom

In admiring the courage that Corrie and Betsie ten Boom had to hide Jews in their home in Haarlem, it would be remiss not to mention their father, Casper ten Boom.

It was his gentle and kind demeanour that raised the two girls, their other sister Nollie and brother Willem, along with his wife Cornelia. They opened their home to strangers, not just those who were later seeking refuge from the Nazis. In chapters before the invasion of Holland, Corrie paints a beautiful picture of a large, loving home, where hospitality and grace ruled. They often had foster children stay with them and people came to their side door at lunch to avail of hot soup made by Betsie. 

Casper worked as a watch-maker in the shop he had inherited from his father, Willem ten Boom. Each morning, when Casper came up for his coffee break, he read the Bible with his family and employees. He enjoyed his work and travelled to Amsderdam by train once a week to set his watch against the time of the Naval Observatory. He would then come back to the watchshop on the Barteljorisstraat and adjust the astronomical clock which he set all the watches and clocks he was working on by.

Casper was 80 when Holland was invaded. Five hours after the Prime Minister gave a speech over radio which the ten Booms had gathered together to listen to, bomb bursts began over Amsterdam. 

In her book, The Hiding Place, Corrie writes: 

“We talked often, Father, Betsie and I, about what we could do if a chance should come to help some of our Jewish friends. Each month the occupation seemed to grow harsher, restrictions more numerous.”

It was in all of their hearts to reach out and help Jewish people who were being signalled out and targeted because of their religion. When the Nazis began requiring all Jews to wear the Star of David, Casper voluntarily wore one as well even though he was a Christian. Soon, they were hiding Jews in their home and a special secret room was created in Corrie’s bedroom that would be able to hide up to 6 people if the house were to be raided.

Corrie tells the story of a clergyman who they had invited along, who might be able to take a Jewish mother and baby to his home outside of the city. To their disappointment, the clergyman was not willing to risk it. Corrie writes:

“Unseen by either of us, Father had appeared in the doorway. “Give the child to me, Corrie,” he said. Father held the baby close, his white beard brushing its cheek, looking into the little face with eyes as blue and innocent as the baby’s own. At last he looked up at the pastor, “You say we could lose our lives for this child. I would consider that the greatest honour that could come to my family.”

There is tenderness and a willingness to sacrifice in Casper’s statement. They did risk a lot - their purpose was always to help others and to protect ‘God’s people’ the Jews. 

When the Gestapo raided the Beje and arrested the ten Booms, Casper was taken along with his three daughters and son to the Scheveningen Prison. The Jewish people hidden upstairs would be safe but ten days later, Casper died at The Hague Municipal Hospital on 9th March 1944. Corrie did not know of his death until 3rd May when her sister Nollie, who had been released, wrote a letter to her which she read alone in her prison cell.

The ten Boom Family and their many friends and co-workers of 'the Beje group' saved the lives of an estimated 800 Jews and other refugees. In 1967 Corrie was recognised as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem an honour bestowed on non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis. This was also honoured posthumously to Casper and Betsie in 2008.