2019-01-23

BELGIUM - Flanders and the Netherlands have a long tradition of silence about the disgraceful collaboration with the German occupiers during the Second World War. Twin brothers Hein and Toon Van den Brempt are determined to break that silence.

Their father was a SS member, their mother worked as a secretary for Richaerd Jungclaus, head of the Belgian SS. Their testimony was an impressive contribution to the successful television series "Children of the collaboration".

Realizing that there was much more to tell and to discover, the brothers engaged the Belgian author Kristien Hemmerechts. Together they went out and searched for the truth behind the taboos, the half truths, the lies and the myths. They delved into archives and went on a journey to emotionally charged places. This book takes the reader on their fascinating and surprising quest.

Team members

Kristien Hemmerechts

Kristien Hemmerechts (1955) is a Belgian writer, who wrote many novels, but also autobiographical essays. 

 

Toon Van den Brempt

The development and combination of technical, social and artistic skills has always fascinated me and continues to inspire me. Also for example to give testimony of the war past of our family and the processing. The television series 'Children of the Collaboration ', the book 'The sorrow of Flanders' and the eponymous musical-literary performance illustrate this."

Hein Van den Brempt

Co,nceived in the war (1944), born after the war (01-07-1945). Wandered around, together with his twin brother Toon, from 1947 to 1958, with his mother and his parents, in Antwerp, Brasschaat, Borgerhout and Deurne.

Supported
A working grant of € 12.970 allocated on 08/07/2018.
ID
FPD/2018/1481
Tags

Boek
The sorrow of Flanders (Het verdriet van Vlaanderen)
ISBN 9789044540895
Publisher: De Geus
Date of publication: 19/02/2019

need resources for your own investigative story?

Journalismfund Europe's flexible grants programmes enable journalists to produce relevant public interest stories with a European mind-set from international, national, and regional perspectives.

Apply

support independent cross-border investigative journalism

We rely on your support to continue the work that we do. Make a gift of any amount today.

Donate