Eli Prins (Jewish Refugee WWII)

 

This is the inside cover of a 4 volume set entitled “The Elizabethan Stage” gifted by the City of Bath to Alkmaar, Netherlands, following the Second World War. 

The bookplate bears the Bath city crest, with the motto “Floreat Bathon” (Let Bath flourish), and a dedication:

“This book is a gift from the City of Bath.”

The adjacent typed note with the motto:

“A gift from Bath to Alkmaar” Help Holland Council

confirms the donation was organized via the Help Holland Council, a British relief effort that supported Dutch cities after the war. 

The historical friendship between the cities of Bath, England and Alkmaar, Netherlands was forged during World War II.

During the "Hunger Winter" of 1944–45, Alkmaar suffered extreme shortages of food and essential supplies. Civilian and civic leaders in   Bath organized aid for the city once liberated. This included   fundraising by the Rotary Club of Bath, spearheaded by refugee Eli   Prins and his ally Jimmie Wills. As part of this aid, Bathers donated   food, clothing, and surplus goods, among which were books. In fact,   £1,000 was raised via a street organ tour.

Bath’s contribution of a number of books symbolized post-war friendship, recovery, and cultural exchange.

This friendship began when Eli Prins, an exiled Dutchman arriving  in  Bath, shared his experiences of German occupation and the   expulsion   of Jews from Alkmaar.

The Bath community was moved by his story and launched a fundraising effort to support Alkmaar, particularly its children, during   the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944. This resulted in a long-standing  twinning association between the two cities.

As can be seen by the stamp at the top of the right hand page these books were later housed in a library at the “De Vluchthoef”  Asylum Seekers Centre in Alkmaar, continuing its life of public service across generations.