Engelandvaarder

An Engelandvaarder (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɛŋəlɑntˌfaːrdər] ; lit. 'Sailor to England') was a Dutch person who escaped from the German-occupied Netherlands to the United Kingdom during World War II with the intention of joining the Free Dutch forces. The name derives from the earliest such attempts involving people who paddled 100 miles across the North Sea. Only about one in ten were successful in the crossing, with most just disappearing in the sea. Once they reached England many joined the Allied forces to help free their country from Nazi Germany. In July 1940 three Dutchmen escaped from the occupied Netherlands and crossed the North Sea to England in a twelve-foot boat. They were called "Engelandvaarders". This first success encouraged many others to try the crossing. Most of these d...