Genealogy van der Leer

Leer van der, Hendrik & Jannigje (de Lange)

Hendrik and Sophia de Zoete’s daughter, Hadassah, was forced to leave the Lafontaines’ (later van Vliet*) home, where she had been hiding, in Wassenaar, South Holland, because the couple was having marital problems. She first stayed with Hendrika Dekkers* for a few weeks until a more permanent place was found for her with Hendrik and Jannigje (Jans) van der Leer and their daughter, Mia. As soon as Hadassah arrived she was welcomed and treated as one of the family by the van der Leers, who were motivated by their Christian beliefs and a willingness to help those in distress. Hendrika Dekkers acted as the courier between Hadassah’s parents’ hiding place in the Breeplein church in Rotterdam and their three daughters in hiding. She took Hadassah once to play in Reverend Brillenburg Wurth’s* garden, where Hendrik and Sophia, who were at that time hiding with the de Mars* family, could watch. This was the only time they saw one of their daughters while they were in hiding. After seven or eight months, Hadassah left the van der Leers and returned to Franciscus Lafontaine*, who had remarried.

On October 13, 1964, Yad Vashem recognized Hendrik van der Leer and his wife, Jannigje van der Leer-de Lange, as Righteous Among the Nations.