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IJmuidense lifeboat Neeltje Jacoba in war years
The lifeboats remained active in the war unchanged. In connection with air raids on England, the occupiers wanted an optimally functioning rescue system along the North Sea coast to be able to rescue shot-down kites from the sea. They demanded that the Dutch lifeboats, like the German colleagues, be permanently and fully manned by relieving crews and that the ships occupied anchor positions along the coast.

Director De Booy, who in principle opposed the interference of the Germans in his organization, managed to convince the new authorities of the impracticability of this plan. Not all lifeboats were equipped with transmitting and receiving equipment and the majority of Dutch lifeboats were not equipped for permanent residence on board. The Germans pulled out a tarpaulin and then set up a new service; the "Lazarettverband", which was composed of 25 advanced pilot boats, trawlers and tugboats. These so-called LAZ ships functioned under a newly created unit: the Dutch Maritime Rescue Service. For this task, the ships were converted into a hospital ship and also acquired the internationally established external features: the color white, surrounded by a red band and striking red crosses on the hull and on the chimney. They sail under Dutch flag with Dutch crews.

The lifeboats underwent a similar transformation. The familiar colors of the boats gave way to the color white with a red band between the waterline and the deck. Furthermore, the construction received the Red Cross sign and the Red Chaste Flag was led from the front. Also file the obligation to wear the Red Cross sign on deck. The Red Cross flag was stretched over the jump net on the large lifeboats. Over time, the coastal area was declared a military zone, ending the employability of the beach lifeboats.

The Noord- and Zuid-Hollandsche Redding-Maatschappij respected strict neutrality, which meant that German soldiers were also rescued. Nationally, the lifeboats exported 481 times during the occupation years, of which 116 times for German ships or aircraft. In total, 860 people were rescued, 350 of whom were Dutch.

The rescue reports in the war period provide little details about the greatly changed circumstances. Each report is accompanied by a note from the German port commander, which states: "Dangers on order of German resistance." There is often resentment about the long wait for German soldiers, because without them there would be no danger; A crossing to England would otherwise be too inviting. For the same reason, tugs were sometimes deployed in an emergency, but not the lifeboat. In short, the Germans did not want more Dutch ships on the water than necessary. Only when the need was really high, the Neeltje Jacoba was called to the rescue; in some cases too late, much to the annoyance of the crew.

In the first year of the occupation, the Neeltje Jacoba often exported to German soldiers. On the North Sea beaches, pressure was exerted to make the country soldiers "sex-assured" for a planned landing on the English coast. The usefulness of these exercises was abundantly proven by the many boats with occupants that floated up the North Sea.

In 1942 the IJmuiden-Noord boathouse was demolished by order of the occupying forces. The boat house IJmuiden-Zuid is evacuated by order of the occupying forces. Motor beach lifeboat Jhr. H.J. Ortt was stationed at rescue station Terschelling-Haven.

The actions of Neeltje Jacoba were seriously complicated in the war nights because of the extinguished lighthouses and coastal fires. Also, the searchlights should only be used sparingly. For security reasons, people usually waited until daylight before entering. In 1944 the IJmuiden-Zuid boathouse was severely damaged by bombing. Motor beach lifeboat Barend van Spreekens goes into the reserve fleet (Westzaan).

The end of the war did not mean the immediate restart of the rescue system. The coastal waters still had to be cleared of mines and several lifeboats had been destroyed or diverted to England. The occupier had also not left the abandoned boat houses, tractors and inventory untouched. Slowly but surely, the old, familiar relationships from before the war made their appearance again. For the lifeboats, this was symbolized by the return of the original "skin colors" on the boats. In the years 1946-1947 the boathouse IJmuiden-Zuid is restored.

Source: the book 'Reddingstation IJmuiden' by Hans Beukema. 

The lifeboats underwent a similar transformation. The familiar colors of the boats gave way to the color white with a red band between the waterline and the deck. Furthermore, the construction received the Red Cross sign and the Red Chaste Flag was led from the front. Also file the obligation to wear the Red Cross sign on deck. The Red Cross flag was stretched over the jump net on the large lifeboats. Over time, the coastal area was declared a military zone, ending the employability of the beach lifeboats.

The Noord- and Zuid-Hollandsche Redding-Maatschappij respected strict neutrality, which meant that German soldiers were also rescued. Nationally, the lifeboats exported 481 times during the occupation years, of which 116 times for German ships or aircraft. In total, 860 people were rescued, 350 of whom were Dutch.

The rescue reports in the war period provide little details about the greatly changed circumstances. Each report is accompanied by a note from the German port commander, which states: "Dangers on order of German resistance." There is often resentment about the long wait for German soldiers, because without them there would be no danger; A crossing to England would otherwise be too inviting. For the same reason, tugs were sometimes deployed in an emergency, but not the lifeboat. In short, the Germans did not want more Dutch ships on the water than necessary. Only when the need was really high, the Neeltje Jacoba was called to the rescue; in some cases too late, much to the annoyance of the crew.

In the first year of the occupation, the Neeltje Jacoba often exported to German soldiers. On the North Sea beaches, pressure was exerted to make the country soldiers "sex-assured" for a planned landing on the English coast. The usefulness of these exercises was abundantly proven by the many boats with occupants that floated up the North Sea.

In 1942 the IJmuiden-Noord boathouse was demolished by order of the occupying forces. The boat house IJmuiden-Zuid is evacuated by order of the occupying forces. Motor beach lifeboat Jhr. H.J. Ortt was stationed at rescue station Terschelling-Haven.

The actions of Neeltje Jacoba were seriously complicated in the war nights because of the extinguished lighthouses and coastal fires. Also, the searchlights should only be used sparingly. For security reasons, people usually waited until daylight before entering. In 1944 the IJmuiden-Zuid boathouse was severely damaged by bombing. Motor beach lifeboat Barend van Spreekens goes into the reserve fleet (Westzaan).

The end of the war did not mean the immediate restart of the rescue system. The coastal waters still had to be cleared of mines and several lifeboats had been destroyed or diverted to England. The occupier had also not left the abandoned boat houses, tractors and inventory untouched. Slowly but surely, the old, familiar relationships from before the war made their appearance again. For the lifeboats, this was symbolized by the return of the original "skin colors" on the boats. In the years 1946-1947 the boathouse IJmuiden-Zuid is restored.

Source: the book 'Reddingstation IJmuiden' by Hans Beukema. 

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IJmuidense lifeboat Neeltje Jacoba in war years
The lifeboats remained active in the war unchanged. In connection with air raids on England, the occupiers wanted an optimally functioning rescue system along the North Sea coast to be able to rescue shot-down kites from the sea. They demanded that the Dutch lifeboats, like the German colleagues, be permanently and fully manned by relieving crews and that the ships occupied anchor positions along the coast.

Director De Booy, who in principle opposed the interference of the Germans in his o
The rescue reports in the war period provide little details about the greatly changed circumstances. Each report is accompanied by a note from the German port commander, which states: "Dangers on order of German resistance." There is often resentment about the long wait for German soldiers, because without them there would be no danger; A crossing to England would otherwise be too inviting. For the same reason, tugs were sometimes deployed in an emergency, but not the lifeboat. In short, the Germans did not want more Dutch ships on the water than necessary. Only when the need was really high, the Neeltje Jacoba was called to the rescue; in some cases too late, much to the annoyance of the crew.

In the first year of the occupation, the Neeltje Jacoba often exported to German soldiers. On the North Sea beaches, pressure was exerted to make the country soldiers "sex-assured" for a planned landing on the English coast. The usefulness of these exercises was abundantly proven by the many boats with occupants that floated up the North Sea.

In 1942 the IJmuiden-Noord boathouse was demolished by order of the occupying forces. The boat house IJmuiden-Zuid is evacuated by order of the occupying forces. Motor beach lifeboat Jhr. H.J. Ortt was stationed at rescue station Terschelling-Haven.

The actions of Neeltje Jacoba were seriously complicated in the war nights because of the extinguished lighthouses and coastal fires. Also, the searchlights should only be used sparingly. For security reasons, people usually waited until daylight before entering. In 1944 the IJmuiden-Zuid boathouse was severely damaged by bombing. Motor beach lifeboat Barend van Spreekens goes into the reserve fleet (Westzaan).

The end of the war did not mean the immediate restart of the rescue system. The coastal waters still had to be cleared of mines and several lifeboats had been destroyed or diverted to England. The occupier had also not left the abandoned boat houses, tractors and inventory untouched. Slowly but surely, the old, familiar relationships from before the war made their appearance again. For the lifeboats, this was symbolized by the return of the original "skin colors" on the boats. In the years 1946-1947 the boathouse IJmuiden-Zuid is restored.

Source: the book 'Reddingstation IJmuiden' by Hans Beukema. IJmuidense lifeboat Neeltje Jacoba in war years

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