Evacuation 10 May 1940

On 10 May 1940, the evacuation of the whole of Wageningen took place. The more than 12,400 inhabitants were divided into 35 districts and each district was given its own time slot, so that the groups arrived in the port well spread out. In each ship there was room for about 400 people from the same neighborhood. Because there were only 32 boats available, 3 wards were divided over the other boats, together with doctors, nurses, priests and pastors.

At 16:00 the first tows (of three boats, pulled by a motorboat) left. When the last tow passed rhenen around 18:00, bombs were already being thrown in the area near Wageningen.

Some ships were not cleaned. Because of the previous shiploads of cement or coal, people were colored in "whites and blacks" when they got out. Food also had to be brought along for the uncertain stay elsewhere. Two ships were destined for this purpose, part of the hospital's inventory and archival documents from the town hall were also taken.
After a week, on Friday 17 May, the first residents returned home in ten ships and on Saturday 18 May the same number followed. The last group arrived in Wageningen on Monday 20 May.

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