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

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government in September 1914,182 the precedent for forcing refugees out of the country was
set around that time. On 4 September 1914, Buhlman had explained to Snijders that any
refugees who refused to go to a camp "can, in case they definitely refuse to go there, be sent
across the border". 183
Although thousands of refugees retumed to Belgium, new groups of refugees
continued to enter the Netherlands as well. Between 20 October and 27 December 1914,
nearly 250,000 refugees living in North Brabant went back to Belgium. In the same time
span, another 30,000 entered the province. 184 Often the new refugees were not fleeing
fighting areas, but saw greater opportunities in the Netherlands than in Belgium. Snijders
asked the cabinet ifhe could close the border temporarily to stop these Belgians, whom he
refused to class as true refugees, from entering the country. 185 The govemment rejected his
request.
By January 1915, around 100,000 Belgians still lived in refugee camps at Uden,
Ede, Nunspeet, Gouda and Veenhuizen. 186 Their numbers remained steady for the rest of
the war. From this time on, the military cOlmnitment to the refugees was minimal.
Koninklijke Marechaussee did guard camps, often helped by half a dozen regular troops. 187
At Nunspeet and Roosendaal camps, soldiers guarded the quarantine rooms (for diseased
refugees) as well as the quarters for prostitutes.1 88 At first, the militmy police and guards
were responsible to the local military commander, but this was soon transferred to the
Minister of Intemal Affairs, who was accountable for the running of the camps.189 The only
real commitment the military still had for refugees was at the borders. Between 1915 and
182 Bossenbroek et. al. (eds.), Vlllchten voor de Groote Oorlog p. 23.
183 "[Z]ullen, in geval zij beslist weigeren derwaarts te gaan, over de grenzen kunnen worden gezet" (Commander of
the Field Army to Commander-in-Chief, 4 September 1914, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Staf' entry no.
2.13.70, inventory no. 74). Minister of War to Provincial Governor in North Brabant, 14 September 1914, in ARA,
"Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 151.
184 Series of daily telegrams from Commander Division III to Commander of the Field Army, 20 October to 27
December 1914, with numbers ofrefugees entering and leaving the country, in ARA, "Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier
Veldleger" entry no. 2.13 .16, inventory no. 151.
185 Commander-in-Chiefto Minister President, 13 November 1914, in ARA, "Archiefvan de Raad van Ministers
1823 - 1977, zijn Commissies en Onderraden 1936 - 1973 en de Raad van Ministers van het Koninkrijk 1955 - 1977"
[Archive ofthe Cabinet 1823 - 1977, its commissions and sub-committees 1936- 1973 and the Cabinet of the Realm
1955 - 1977] entry no. 2.02.05.02, inventory no. 146.
186 Bos-Rops, "De Commissaris en de vluchtelingen" p. 105.
187 Schaverbeke, "Vluchtoord Nunspeet" p. 3.
188 Commander-in-Chiefto Minister ofInternal Affairs, 28 October 1914, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Staf'
entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 1; Heuvel-Strasser, "Vluchtelingenzorg of vreemdelingenbeleid" p. 196;
Schaverbeke, "Vluchtoord Nunspeet" p. 4.
189 Treub, Oorlogstijd p. 151.