Cornelis Pieter van den Hoek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cornelis Pieter van den Hoek
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Van den Hoek at the Binnenhof in The Hague, 29 May 2009
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| Born | 7 June 1921 Leerdam, South Holland, Netherlands |
| Died | 12 February 2015 (aged 93) Werkendam, North Brabant, Netherlands |
| Allegiance | Netherlands |
| Service/ |
 Dutch resistance |
| Years of service | 1944–1945 |
| Awards |
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Cornelis Pieter "Piet" van den Hoek (born June 7, 1921 – died February 12, 2015) was a brave Dutch resistance fighter during World War II. He was one of the very few people to receive the special Dutch Military William Order. This award is the highest military honor in the Netherlands.
A Hero in the Resistance
In 1942, during World War II, Piet van den Hoek was arrested. German forces sent him to a labor camp in Cologne, Germany. A labor camp was a place where people were forced to work.
During a short break from the camp in November 1943, Piet decided to go into hiding. He found a safe place on a houseboat in an area called De Biesbosch. Three other people were already hiding there. They received supplies from a group called the Onderduikersdienst. This group helped people who were hiding from the Germans.
While in hiding, Piet joined the Dutch resistance. The resistance was a secret group fighting against the German occupation. He became part of a group known as 'De Partizanen van de Biesbosch'. He was one of 21 special people called "line-crossers." These line-crossers secretly moved people, messages, and supplies across enemy lines.
The Highest Honor: Knighthood
On October 30, 1948, Piet van den Hoek received a very special award. Queen Juliana of the Netherlands made him a Knight of the Military William Order. This happened through a "Royal Decree," which is a special order from the Queen.
The Military William Order is the oldest and highest military honor in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is given for showing great bravery, strong leadership, and loyalty during battles. This award is very rare. It is similar to the British Victoria Cross, another very high military honor.
Awards Received
Piet van den Hoek received several important awards for his bravery:
- Military William Order, Knight 4th class
- Order of Orange-Nassau, Knight 5th class
- Resistance Memorial Cross
