Meanwhile in Apeldoorn brings stories from Apeldoorn’s history to life in 5 short films, 5 freely accessible mini-events, and a final performance. These stories are part of Het grote verhaal van Apeldoorn (The great story of Apeldoorn), inspiring each of our short plays.

The Secret Phone Exchange

After the fire in the Apeldoorn town hall in May 1943, during World War II, a large villa at Loolaan 20 is set up as a temporary town hall. What Mayor Dirk Frans Pont and the Germans do not know is that Apeldoorn resistance fighters are installing a secret telephone exchange in the attic of that villa…

A telephone exchange cannot function without staff. Someone has to record incoming messages and forward calls by literally connecting them to the right lines. A young resistance fighter, Nelly, stands guard there. She can enter and leave the building without being noticed because there are others using the villa, such as an Air Raid Protection Service post. When she has to sleep, the telephone service is taken over by a young man from the resistance.

Will they succeed in collecting and relaying important information while hiding “in the lion’s den”? Or will they get caught?

Performance Details

Date: 8 February 2025, Saturday
Time: 14:00-15:00
Venue: CODA (Vosselmanstraat 299. Apeldoorn)
Location: In the library, by the hotspot with theme “security”
Entrance: Free

Program
14:00 – 14:15 The Secret Phone Exchange mini theater performance
14:15 – 14:30 Interactive Q&A with writer Sanne Hillemans and CODA archivist Stefan Rutten
14:30 – 14:45 Tea / coffee

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Please note that photos will be taken during this event for promotional purposes. If you are not comfortable with this, please feel free to inform us at the event so we can make adjustments accordingly.

Many Thanks to Our Partners

This production is made possible thanks to our partners including CODA, videographer Thomas Boelaars, and musician Mario Meijer.

Meanwhile in Apeldoorn is supported by the subsidy “Participation is the Art: Culture & Heritage innovation budget” from Cultuur Oost.

Learn more about this project here.