in detail
Approximately 26,000 people were imprisoned in Scheveningen Prison during the German occupation of the Netherlands from 1940 to 1945. As it became known that almost all those held there were either members of the Dutch Resistance or political prisoners, the prison soon became popularly known as the »Oranjehotel«, in allusion to the Dutch national colour, orange. 215 of the prisoners spent their final hours in »Death Cell 601« before they were executed. For many others the prison was the starting point for their deportation to German concentration camps.
The »Oranjehotel« Foundation in particular maintains »Death Cell 601« as a place of remembrance in today's prison, as well as the other two memorials here. These are the »They were of one mind« memorial inaugurated in 1950 on the exterior wall of the prison, and a commemorative plaque at the »Poortje«, the small door used to lead the prisoners to their executions.
The door is now opened only once a year in autumn as part of the memorial ceremony.
The foundation's aim is to keep the memory alive of all those who played an active role in the Resistance during the Second World War, or were imprisoned in the »Oranjehotel« as a result of their philosophy of life.
During the German occupation, predominantly Dutch resistance fighters were imprisoned in the »Oranjehotel« prison in the coastal resort of Scheveningen near The Hague. Many of them were deported to German concentration camps from there.
There is a memorial room in the building which is still used as a prison today. There are two smaller memorials in the outer area.
1940 to 1945
A total of 26,000 people were incarcerated in the prison known as the ‘Oranjehotel’ in Scheveningen.
August 1946
Founding of the ‘Comité Oranjehotel’
5 October 1946
Inauguration of the ‘Death Cell 601’ memorial room.
6 May 1947
Founding of the ‘Oranjehotel’ Foundation.
17 September 1949
Unveiling of the commemorative plaque at the ‘Poortje’.
16 September 1950
Unveiling of the ‘They were of one mind’ memorial by Queen Juliana.
1 February 2003
The National Archive (The Hague) took over maintenance of the four death rolls from the ‘Oranjehotel’ Foundation.
Scheveningen, around 1938, cell corridor in the later »Oranjehotel«, NIOD.
Scheveningen, 2002, Commemorative plaque on the exterior wall of the prision, Stichting »Oranjehotel«.
Scheveningen, 2003, Commemoration and open »Poortje« in the prision wall, Stichting »Oranjehotel«.
Scheveningen,o.D., Commemoration room »Death Cell 601«, Stichting »Oranjehotel«.
