Lezing: Na tachtig jaar uit de schaduw

• 24 April 2026
  • 20:00 – 22:00

After eighty years in the shadows, Kokhuis is now stepping forward. Who isn’t familiar with the film “A Bridge Too Far” and the famous scene of the perilous Waal crossing near Nijmegen? In 1944, Kokhuis was the only Dutch soldier involved, a fact that has only recently come to light.

The lecture follows Kokhuis not only during the war, but also in the years that followed: his return home, the consequences of the battle, and a remarkable post-war life in which he again played special roles.

While researching his family tree, Visser stumbled upon his previously unknown great-uncle, which led to more hidden family stories. He also discovered other West Frisian relatives in archives who did not survive the war. The first part of the lecture will also feature portraits of them.

Out of the Shadows is a carefully crafted narrative lecture with still and moving images, in which great history and personal experiences converge. Stories that have long remained hidden and deserve to be retold.

The lecture starts at 8:00 PM, doors open at 7:15 PM

You can also come and have a nice meal beforehand at 6:00 PM,

Before the lecture, you can enjoy a delicious 1, 2, or 3-course buffet prepared in original WWII field kitchens. From 6:00 PM, you can watch the Live Cooking and hear how they kept our liberators fed on the West Front for months. The main course we’ll be preparing is the Blauwe Hap, a delicious nasitafel with a story. Come experience this unique experience before the lecture and book it with your lecture ticket.