Vrij Nederland Possibly 1945

This edition of Vrij Nederland, dating to May 7, 1945, was produced using modest materials and straightforward printing processes. It is a document of resistance. The paper is thin, indicative of wartime scarcity, and the ink is utilitarian. Yet, the design is carefully considered, with a clear masthead and carefully arranged text. This speaks to the urgency and importance of the message it conveys: the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi occupation. Consider the labor involved in its production. The writers, editors, and printers risked their lives to create and distribute this underground newspaper, using whatever materials and equipment they could find. It embodies not only the spirit of resistance but the daily acts of defiance in the face of oppression. The very act of creating and circulating such a publication was a form of resistance, challenging the Nazi regime's control over information and expression. Appreciating the materiality and making of this historical artifact, we recognize its significance.