Alida Bosshardt

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Alida Margaretha Bosshardt
Utrecht Netherlands
Died	25 June 2007(2007-06-25) (aged 94) Amsterdam
Nationality	Dutch
Known for	Righteous Among The Nations

Righteous Among the Nations
The Holocaust Rescuers of Jews Righteousness Seven Laws of Noah Yad Vashem
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Alida Margaretha Bosshardt (

Bosshardt became a member of the Salvation Army after visiting one of their meetings when she was 18. Before that, she was not religious. Her father was a converted

Second World War

, Bosshardt took care of the mostly Jewish children who had been brought by their parents to the home.

After the war, she worked at the Army's national headquarters in Amsterdam. She noticed that the Army had no activities in Amsterdam's red-light district, De Wallen, and obtained permission to start working there. Her work for the prostitutes gained her national fame. In 1965, she accompanied Princess Beatrix on a secret visit of the red-light district.

In 1978, Bosshardt retired. She had already been promoted to

in the Army, but she was still generally known as "Major Bosshardt". After her retirement, she was still a prominent member of the Army, regularly appearing on television and speaking at conferences and church services.

In 2004, Yad Vashem recognized Bosshardt as a Righteous Among the Nations, for her work in the Second World War.

The Major Bosshardt Prize

The Major Bosshardt Prize, named after Bosshardt, was established in 2006. It consists of a certificate and a miniature bronze statue of Bosshardt and is intended for persons who have been of singular merit for society. The first award was given to psychologist Anton van der Geld [nl].

Legacy and honors

The Majoor Bosshardtbrug [nl], Oudezijds Achterburgwal in Amsterdam, is named after Alida Bosshardt.

• 
  Sculpture of Alida Bosshardt
  by Peter de Leeuwe [nl]
• 
  Bust in Terneuzen

References

External links

Media related to Alida Bosshardt at Wikimedia Commons

• Alida Bosshardt – her activity to save Jews' lives during the
  Holocaust, at Yad Vashem
  website