© Fries Museum

© Ruben van Vliet

© Marieke Balk

The Frisian Resistance Museum was opened in 1979 and was the first resistance museum in the Netherlands. Over the years, it has expanded its collection and moved several times.In December 2019, the museum was reorganised, resulting in an exceptional new display that is currently on show. At the Frisian Resistance Museum, you will meet the citizens of Friesland during the war years. Frisians and non-Frisians tell their stories of how they lived through the war in the Frisian countryside.There was resistance and persecution, but there was no hunger winter. However, there were refugees and people who came from far and wide in search of milk and food. Stories are at the heart of the Resistance Museum. Eyewitness accounts and objects with a personal history bring us closer to the war. These stories are touching, confronting and make us think.The focus is on the difficult choices that people had to make in those special times. The aerial war over Friesland, resistance against the occupiers and hiding are the focus of the exhibition. Particular attention is also paid to the spectacular flight of the Friesian resistance over the Huis van Bewaring (prison where prisoners awaiting trial or sentencing are held) in Leeuwarden.

The Netherlands

The Fries Verzetsmuseum (Frisian Resistance Museum) in Leeuwarden is devoted to the impact of the Second World War on people in the province of Friesland. The collection presents 45,000 objects, documents, books, magazines, photographs and films, which give a global picture of the war in Friesland. 

The Fries Verzetsmuseum was opened in 1979 and was the first resistance museum in the Netherlands. Over the years it expanded its collection and moved several times. In December 2019 the museum was reorganised which lead to a great new presentation which is currently on display.

In the Fries Verzetsmuseum you’ll meet the citizens of Friesland during the war years. Frisians and non-Frisians tell their stories of how they experienced the war in the countryside in Friesland. Resistance and persecution took place, but no hunger winter. However, there were refugees and people coming from far away to get milk and food.

Stories are at the heart of the Fries Verzetsmuseum. Eyewitnesses and objects with a personal story bring the war up close. These stories affect, confront and make people think. There is a focus on the difficult choices people had to make in these special times. Central are the subjects of the air war above Friesland, the resistance against the occupier and the hiding. Special attention is also paid to the spectacular robbery of the Frisian resistance on the Huis van Bewaring (prison which holds prisoners awaiting trial or sentence) in Leeuwarden.

Musée de la Résistance frisonne

Photos