We Found Our Family's WWII Past in This Dutch City

For three weeks we return to Zutphen, Netherlands — a city deeply connected to Fiona’s family history and the years they endured under German occupation during the Second World War. This 8-part series explores the streets, stories, and scars of this beautiful Hanseatic town. We walk through history — from medieval architecture to wartime memory — remembering the Jewish families taken from this city who never returned. I walk the streets of Zutphen, reading the names engraved on memorial plaques placed outside former homes — small stones that carry enormous weight. Each name represents a life, a family, a story interrupted. At the same time, life continues aboard as we tackle long-awaited boat maintenance to prepare for summer cruising — something many of you have been asking about! This is a series about: • Family roots • Occupied Holland during WWII • Jewish remembrance in Zutphen • Dutch history and heritage • Reflection and responsibility • Boat life and summer preparations Zutphen has many stories to tell. We’re honoured to share them. #Zutphen #WWIIHistory #OccupiedHolland #DutchHistory #JewishRemembrance #FamilyHistory #NeverForget #BoatLife #SailingLife #Netherlands