Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

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burning villages to the ground. 174 As of 18 October, civic representatives from Antwerp
held meetings with refugees in Breda, Roosendaal, Bergen op Zoom and Hoogerheide to
reassure them that the city was safe. 175 They also gave refugees the opportunity to travel on
to Britain, after the British govermnent offered to take many refugees off Dutch hands. 176
Soon, the government urged mayors to use "zachte drang" (mild pressure) to move the
foreigners. 177 Although officially the Netherlands did not force refugees to leave,
unofficially mayors exercised "mild pressure" in a variety of ways: some gave refugees an
ultimatum, some requested them to leave, while others left refugees no choice when the
municipality refused to feed them.17S
Refugees began returning to Belgium in large numbers from 16 October 1914
onwards. Those who stayed in the Netherlands fit into three categories: relatively wealthy
individuals who could pay their own way; "well-deserving" middle-class persons who lost
everything in the war; and poverty-stricken Belgians. 179 The Dutch govermnent gave the
pauvre honteux (well-deserving) a small allowance, enough to enable them to stay in the
country and live like Dutch citizens. In sharp contrast, it tried to absolve itself of
responsibility for penniless refugees. Government policy dictated that dependent persons
were not free and should not enjoy the freedoms of self-sufficient individuals. ISO All
"undeserving" refugees were given the option of residing in a refugee camp or returning
home. The prospect of living in a dreary camp with little freedom was enough for many to
try their luck back in Belgium. lSI In spite of a declaration of hospitality given by the
174 Commander-in-Chiefto Commander Division III, 12 October 1914; Chief of Division III Staff, "Rapport aan den
Divisiecommandant" 15 October 1914; Commander Division III to Commander ofthe Field Army, 25 October 1914,
all in ARA, "Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.l6, inventory no. 151.
175 The timetable for the return of refugees, 1914, in ARA, "Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no.
2.l3.l6, inventory no. 151.
176 Cahalan, Belgian Refugee Relief in England pp. 119 - 120, 123; Wintermans, Belgische vluchtelingen in
Eindhoven p. 21; TallieI', "De Belgische vluchtelingen" p. 24.
177 Bossenbroek et. al. (eds.), Vluchten vaal' de Groote OOl-log pp. 25 - 26.
178 Officer of HeaIth, Dr. F. H. Hehewerth, report to the Commander Division III, 27 October 1914, in ARA,
"Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 372; HasseIt, "Belgische vluchtelingen in
Roosendaal" p. 109.
179 Zanten, "De zorg voor vluchtelingen" pp. 337 - 339; Flier, War Finances p. 57; Bos-Rops, "De Commissaris en
de vluchtelingen" p. 108.
180 Bossenbroek et. al. (eds.), Vluchten vaal' de Groote Oorlog p. 28.
181 Commander-in-Chiefto Commander of the Field Army, 29 August 1914; Commander of the Field Army to
Commander Cavalry Brigade, 12 September 1914, both in ARA, "Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry
no. 2.13.l6, inventory no. 151; Garrison Commander Maastricht to Commander of the Field Army, 1 September
1914, in ARA, "Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.l6, inventory no. 148.