The Hiding Place Summary
Description
Here you will find a The Hiding Place summary (Corrie Ten Boom's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters The Hiding Place Summary Overview
In the Dutch city of Haarlem, in 1937, a celebration marks the centenary of a family-owned watchmaking business. This family, consisting of a father and his children Corrie, Nollie, Willem, and Betsie, are deeply religious and known for their benevolence. They are aware of the rising tension in Germany under Hitler but cannot foresee the looming horrors. The memoir follows Corrie's life from her sixth to twenty-first year, her unrequited love, familial losses, and the discovery of her nephew Peter's musical talent. They also hire a German employee, who is later dismissed due to his anti-Semitic views and disrespectful conduct. In 1942, life changes drastically after the Dutch surrender to Germany in 1940. The family starts hiding Jews and other endangered individuals in their home, known as the Beje, even going as far as building a secret room for added safety. They find an ally in a police officer named Rolf. As the Nazi presence increases, the city's tension escalates, leading to the family's arrest and transportation out of Haarlem. In prison, the women are separated from the men. Corrie learns of her father's death and befriends a sympathetic lieutenant. During her time in prison, she carries a small Bible given by her sister around her neck. The prison is evacuated, and Corrie is reunited with her sister, Betsie. They are sent to a camp for political prisoners where they endure atrocious conditions and inhuman treatment. Despite the adversity, their faith remains unwavering. As winter sets in, the already appalling conditions worsen. Betsie falls ill and is admitted to the hospital. Upon her return, the sisters are assigned to the knitting room, where they engage in prayer and Bible reading. Betsie has visions of a post-war life of service but sadly passes away before liberation. Corrie, who is released due to a medical condition, returns to Holland and continues to carry Betsie's vision of helping war-damaged people, eventually taking over a former concentration camp as a relief site. This memoir concludes with a brief account of Corrie's life after the war, her work with refugees, and her death in 1983.
chapter 1
Corrie, the book's writer and narrator, wakes up for a celebration marking a century since her father's watch shop opening in Haarlem, Netherlands in 1937. She paints a picture of their residence, the Beje, a multi-tiered structure housing both the shop and family quarters. During the morning, flower bouquets sent by her father's admirers arrive, which she and Betsie, her sister, organize for the party. Their apprentice, Hans and bookkeeper, Toos, join them. Their father joins them at the breakfast table, praising his daughters' vibrant dresses and shares stories of his youth spent in the house. Of their family, only Corrie and Betsie remain at home. Their siblings, Nollie and Willem have their own families, and their mother, Mama, and several aunts, including Tante Jans, are no more. Their father takes a moment to read from the Bible and inquires about Christoffels, another worker, who soon joins them. Corrie cycles to Nollie’s place to borrow some cups as the guest count increases. Nollie’s family, Pickwick, a rich patron and friend, and the Kan family, also watch shop owners, all turn up. The atmosphere shifts when Willem brings along Herr Gutlieber, a Jewish man who fled Germany in a milk truck, steering the conversation towards Germany and its current alarming circumstances.
chapter 2
Corrie looks back on her early years. At six, she was living with her mother's sisters, Jans, Bep, and Anna. Her aunt Jans, a Christian writer who was also a widow, stayed in a couple of rooms above their shop. She bought the girls practical but outdated hats. During breakfast, her father read out a Psalm, “Thou art my hiding place,” leading Corrie to ponder why someone would need a hideaway. Corrie spent her summer accompanying her dad on his weekly trips to Amsterdam for his watchmaking business where he met with several Jews. Corrie once asked her father what sexsin, a term from a poem which means "sexual experience," signified. He equated knowledge to a heavy suitcase, indicating that she was too young to bear its weight. She narrates stories from their evenings at the Beje, filled with visitors and music. She recounts an instance of joining her mother to console a family who had lost their baby. Death became a tangible reality to Corrie when she touched the lifeless baby's hand. Her fear was met with her father's reassurance that just as he gave her a train ticket at the right moment, God would grant her the strength to face death in the family when the time came.
chapter 3
Corrie reminisces about her early years. At fourteen, she encounters Karel, a friend of Willem, her brother, and develops feelings for him. Amidst this, Tante Bep becomes ill with tuberculosis, and their mother suffers from gallstones and strokes. Attempting to improve Tante Bep's mood, Corrie's mother advises her that joy is self-made. Following Bep's demise, Tante Jans discovers she has diabetes. To cut medical expenses, Corrie starts monitoring Jans' blood weekly, while Jans continues her work on a military center. Meanwhile, Willem is ordained as a minister and marries Tine. At twenty-one, Corrie reunites with Karel at Willem's wedding. Around the same time, Tante Jans is given a few weeks to live. She responds to this news with the grit and faith Father alluded to in his train ticket analogy. Four months post Jans' funeral, the family is present at Willem's first sermon, where Karel is also a guest. Corrie and Karel start taking daily strolls. Willem, however, cautions Corrie that Karel's mother expects him to wed a wealthy woman, making their union unlikely. When Karel introduces his affluent fiancée on his next visit, Corrie is left heartbroken. Father provides solace by assuring her that God will present the right opportunity for love when the time comes.
chapter 4
In 1918, Mama suffers a stroke and falls into a coma, but regains consciousness and limited mobility two months later. Despite her limited speech, her love remains undiminished. She joyfully attends Nollie's wedding to Flip van Woerden and even sings her favored hymn, but passes away peacefully a month later. When Betsie falls sick, Corrie assumes the roles of sales and bookkeeping in the shop. They then discover they prefer swapping roles, with Betsie enjoying housekeeping and Corrie being enthusiastic about learning Father's trade. Fast forward three years, Corrie makes history as the first woman watchmaker in Holland. Meanwhile, the Ten Boom family starts fostering children. When Father contracts hepatitis, the townsfolk gift him a radio, bringing news and music into their home. Nollie's son, Peter, shows his musical talent by spotting a faulty piano note during a concert. The family routinely listens to the news, hearing Hitler's enraged voice, but like most Dutch people, they believe he'll be suppressed. Father employs Otto from Germany as an apprentice, but fires him upon discovering his anti-Semitic views, the knife in his room, and his disrespect for the elderly Christoffels.
chapter 5
The ten Boom family is in the midst of hearing a speech by the Prime Minister about the looming war. Despite the encouraging tone, their elderly father switches off the radio, predicting Holland's invasion and subsequent defeat. Corrie is later roused from sleep by the sound of bombs and has a disturbing vision of her loved ones being carted away. Merely five days later, the queen abandons Holland, tanks cross the border, and the family hears of Holland's surrender. German soldiers now populate Haarlem, with many purchasing watches. In this new reality, the ten Booms adapt to curfews, identification cards, and rationing. They relinquish their smaller radio but hide the larger one for future use. The Germans utilise the local airport to conduct raids on England. Following a raid on Mr. Weil's fur shop, Corrie reaches out to her brother Willem to secure protection for their Jewish neighbour. Willem's son Kik aids Mr. Weil in fleeing, thereby introducing Corrie to the underground, a clandestine organisation dedicated to defending Jews. Now more than ever, Corrie grapples with her Christian beliefs and how to counteract evil. The family comes to know Mr. de Vries, another Jewish neighbour. They assist in moving a rabbi's collection of books to their home for safekeeping. While aiding a Jewish doctor and his family, Corrie is once more haunted by the dreadful vision of her family being forced out of Holland.
chapter 6
In 1942, Peter defies the ban on the Dutch national anthem by playing it at church, leading to his capture by the Gestapo after three days. A fortnight later, Mrs. Kleermaker, a Jewish lady, seeks refuge at the ten Boom residence. She's warmly received and offered shelter and care. Soon after, an elderly Jewish couple also finds refuge in their home. Corrie attempts to acquire ration cards for their guests through Willem but finds he's under surveillance and can't assist. She turns to Fred Koornstra from the Food Office, and they strategize on how to secure more ration cards. Fred agrees to deliver these at the Beje, which is increasingly becoming a hub for those needing assistance. Soon, Corrie is introduced to the national underground at Pickwick’s home by Kik. At this meeting, a man referred to as “Mr. Smit” proposes to create a hidden chamber at the Beje. Amidst all this, the family gets the relieving news of Peter's impending release. Observing the multilevel structure and numerous small spaces of the Beje, Mr. Smit approves of it as an ideal location for their secret room. A team of workers is then brought in to construct a deceptive brick wall, effectively hiding the secret room from the Gestapo's sight.
chapter 7
At 51, Corrie recounts the razzia, a term for the Gestapo's unexpected raids meant to capture young men. During one such raid on the Beje, Peter and Kik conceal themselves under the floorboards. Christoffels is discovered lifeless in his bed, paralyzed by terror. Mr. and Mrs. de Vries seek refuge in a neighboring house, but this too is soon targeted. Upon Mr. de Vries's capture, a compassionate police officer, Rolf, allows his Christian wife to bid him goodbye before his departure. When Corrie inquires how to repay Rolf's kindness, he requests her assistance in sheltering a young man. The Beje is transformed into the central hub for a vast covert operation. The household creates a coded language based on watch repair terminology to safely discuss confidential matters over the phone. Several Jews, including a mother and her newborn, seek refuge at the Beje. A cantor from Amsterdam, Meyer Mossel, joins them, assuming the alias Eusie Smit for his safety. Pickwick outfits the house with a buzzer alarm and the residents start practicing hiding drills. Later, they welcome Mary, an elderly woman with asthma, into their home. They pass enjoyable evenings reading plays and enjoying music, illuminated by Corrie’s bike headlight.
chapter 8
Nollie and a Jewish girl they're sheltering are caught because Nollie can't lie about the girl's heritage. However, the girl escapes during a surprising intrusion, leaving Nollie incarcerated. Corrie tries to convince a doctor to liberate Nollie, but he urges her to be patient. Corrie struggles with the night-time drills, finding lying difficult. Meanwhile, Willem conducts regular prayer sessions at the Beje. Unexpectedly, Otto—the ex-apprentice dismissed by Father for his anti-Semitic views—shows up. Corrie sounds the alarm, causing everyone not part of the family to hide successfully and Otto leaves without causing trouble. When Nollie is finally set free, the household marks both Christmas and Hanukkah. Yet, their Jewish songs draw complaints from neighbors. The police chief calls Corrie, but instead of condemning her, he shows understanding for their actions. He proposes that Corrie assist him in murdering a mole, but she convinces him to pray for the spy's change of heart. When Rolf alerts the household of an upcoming raid, Beje resident Jop rushes to alert the potential victims. Unfortunately, the Gestapo were expecting him and Jop is taken into custody.
chapter 9
The storyline advances to February 1944, when the Gestapo storm the Beje. All those not related to the ten Boom family take cover. However, the soldiers subject Corrie and Betsie to a harsh interrogation and physical abuse in their quest to find the hidden room and the Jews. Pickwick was already in custody. The following day, the ten Boom family, inclusive of Peter, and thirty-five other detainees from the previous night, are escorted to the police station. All captives are placed in a gym, where they are provided with water and bread rolls. Father continues the regular routine, reciting evening prayers. Rolf, who covertly backs the family, advises them to dispose of any possibly incriminating documents in the toilet. The next day, the detainees are crammed onto a bus. As they leave Haarlem, the sight of a battered and bloodied Pickwick shocks the ten Boom family. Corrie is reminded of her previous premonition of the family being led away and unable to return to their home. Their destination remains unknown to her.
chapter 10
The ten Boom family endure relentless interrogations at The Hague, the Gestapo’s base in Holland. Upon being offered a pardon in exchange for ceasing aid to Jews, Father defiantly pledges to assist those in dire need and deprived of liberty. To shield her family, Corrie admits to being the mastermind. Subsequently, they are transported by bus to Scheveningen penitentiary. The family is divided by gender and stripped of their belongings. Corrie, Betsie, and Nollie are placed in separate cells. In her cell, Corrie is offered her own cot due to her flu. After a fortnight, Corrie is diagnosed with pre-tuberculosis. A compassionate nurse provides Corrie with soap, safety pins, and four Gospels. Corrie, still battling fever, is relocated to solitary confinement a couple of nights later, where she marks her birthday on April 15. During an evening when the guards are away at a gathering, the prisoners seize the chance to exchange updates. Corrie discovers that Betsie is in proximity and Nollie, Peter, and Willem have been freed. However, there is no update about Father. Later, Corrie receives a parcel from Nollie, which includes cookies, a needle, a blue sweater, and a red towel for embroidery. Eventually, Corrie receives a heart-wrenching letter from Nollie, revealing that their father passed away ten days post-arrest.
chapter 11
Corrie faces her initial trial, where she's treated with kindness by Lieutenant Rahms. He offers her comfort but demands a full confession. When Corrie justifies her actions towards the disabled, he disregards her. The following day, they converse outdoors about Corrie's biblical beliefs. Upon hearing about the Light that eliminates all darkness, Rahms admits his personal struggle with darkness. Rahms and Corrie meet multiple times, where he hears about her family and is upset about her father's death in prison, though he confesses his inability to assist. After the meetings, Corrie passes by Betsie's cell, which has been made homely. Rahms escorts Corrie to a room where her father's will is to be read. To her delight, she is reunited with her family: Willem, Tine, Nollie, Flip, and Betsie. Nollie gives Corrie a small Bible hidden in a pouch. The family appreciates Rahms's compassion as Father's will is read by a notary.
chapter 12
Corrie recognizes Jesus as her ultimate refuge as the prison gets evacuated. She and Betsie, along with other prisoners, are transported on buses without seats. They alight in a forest and walk a mile to Vught, a camp designed for political captives. From there, they're moved to another camp, witnessing horrific tortures. This brutality leaves Corrie horrified but Betsie sees a chance to propagate love. Betsie gets positioned to sew uniforms and Corrie is assigned to a Phillips factory to make radios. A kind-hearted supervisor, Moorman, gives Corrie better work when he learns she's a watchmaker. The sisters work long shifts but meet each night. Moorman allows short breaks for singing and games at the factory. The inmates hear that a Dutch brigade might liberate Holland, but the sounds of explosions reveal it to be German destruction, not liberation. Subsequently, the inmates are driven from Vught and crammed into a train, heading to Germany. They make holes in the train walls for ventilation and devise a method to lie down entwined. The journey is fraught with halts and starts, interrupted by hailstorms and gunfire.
chapter 13
Corrie and Betsie endure a four-day train journey in appalling conditions before arriving at Ravensbruck extermination camp. They stay in a lice-ridden tent, and are even forced to sleep in the woods for a few nights. Betsie falls ill after three days. To avoid confiscation during inspections, they cleverly hide a blue sweater, Bible, and vitamins. Corrie later conceals these under her prison attire. Amid the camp's atrocities, they find solace in their shared faith and the image of Christ's sacrifice. In October, they, along with 1,400 other women, are crammed into wooden platforms infested with fleas, built initially to accommodate only 400. They work grueling eleven-hour shifts for Siemens outside the camp, and manage to hold religious services in their quarters every night. They also generously share their vitamins with fellow prisoners. In November, they get coats, but Betsie's health deteriorates. When Betsie is assaulted by a guard, Corrie intervenes, but is stopped by Betsie who urges her to maintain her spiritual focus. Betsie's condition worsens as she starts coughing blood, and Corrie takes her to the hospital. On returning to the overcrowded barracks without Betsie, Corrie experiences a profound sense of loneliness.
chapter 14
Betsie bounces back and is soon back in the barracks, knitting socks. The guards avoid the knitting room due to a flea infestation, giving Betsie the chance to conduct Bible readings and prayers. Corrie is meant to work in a factory, yet she can't bear to be separated from Betsie. Understanding her predicament, a guard helps her get a spot in the knitting room. It's here that Betsie shares her dream of owning a large house to carry on their service. Winter is harsh and fatal, taking away the lives of the weakest women. During roll call, women stomp their feet for warmth. Corrie reflects on her own self-interest, realizing it's easy to ignore when faced with greater evils. Betsie's health fails again, yet she continues to outline her vision of a camp, complete with window boxes and vibrant green paint. Betsie is hospitalized and passes away soon after. A compassionate guard permits Corrie to view Betsie’s remains. Betsie's face is serene and beautiful in death. In the hospital corridor, Corrie spots Betsie’s light blue sweater on the floor, a gift from their sister Nollie. The guard advises her not to pick it up due to contamination. Corrie leaves the sweater where it lies.
chapter 15
Corrie gets edema, causing her legs to swell up. The doctor sends her to the hospital, where she stays until she's better. Afterwards, she is given her belongings, some clothes, and food before setting off to Uelzen on New Year's Day in 1945. As she travels, she witnesses the damage inflicted on Germany through the window. Once in Holland, she is hospitalized again until she's fit enough to visit Willem, who is on his deathbed, in his home, which shelters over fifty inhabitants. Soon after, Corrie goes back to Beje and starts to settle back into her previous life. Haunted by Betsie’s words—We must tell people what we learned—she starts giving public speeches. During one such address, a rich lady named Ms. Bierens de Haan pledges to offer her grand house to fulfill Betsie's dream. Holland is liberated by the Allies in May, and the house soon becomes a sanctuary for those traumatized by the war. Corrie then journeys worldwide, repeating Betsie's tale to anyone who would listen. An unexpected handshake with a former SS guard leads to an unexpected wave of love and forgiveness. Eventually, Corrie repurposes an old concentration camp into a refuge, decorating it with window boxes and a fresh coat of bright green paint.
chapter 16
The chapter provides a brief overview of Corrie's life after World War II. It talks about a former concentration camp in Darmstadt, which became a place of renewal from 1946 to 1960. In 1946, Corrie's brother, Willem, passed away due to tuberculosis, and she also lost her nephew Kik in 1944. Corrie's cousin, Peter, composed devotional music. In 1959, Corrie discovered her release from Ravensbruck was due to a paperwork mistake. She journeyed across the globe, retelling Betsie’s story and expressing the transformative power of Jesus to turn “loss into glory.” Despite suffering multiple severe strokes, she remained positive and inspiring until her death on her 91st birthday in 1983.
