The 2012 exhibition included a crochet blue purse, with embroidered names. It was made by Tilly de Vries who during the war was held in the Scheveningen prison (nicknamed at the time 'De Oranjehotel').
A niece of Tilly's saw the handbag at the exhibition and she and her sister subsequently donated to the Museum some other embroideries by Tilly de Vries. These are three embroidered samples and an embroidered blue blouse, all worked by Tilly while she was held in Scheveningen prison. One of the embroidered texts read: “Met Paschen-later met Pinksteren- thuis!” ('With Eastern - later with Pentecost - home!), and other more philosophical texts, in English, French and German.
Mathilda Nelly de Vries (calling name Tilly) was born in a Jewish family on 1st October 1913 in The Hague. She studied at the University of Amsterdam and joined the communist party. In November 1940 she helped setting up an illegal paper, called De Vrije Katheder; Bulletin ter verdediging van de universiteiten ('The Free Lectern: Bulletin for the defence of the universities'). Early March 1941 she was arrested in Leiden and she spent one and a half year in prison. In November 1942 she was sent to Auschwitz, where she died on 21st November of the same year.
See also the TRC Needles entry on an WW II internment camp apron.
Digital source (retrieved 6th July 2016).
Website Verzetsmuseum (retrieved 6th July 2016).
Digital source of illustration (retrieved 6th July 2016).
WV