Illegal telephone switchboard "the Monastery"
Brigittenstraat 20
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During World War II, an illegal telephone switchboard with five lines, "the Monastery," sat in the attic of this large house. The telephone switchboard belonged to the Central Intelligence Service (CID), which was initially the security and intelligence agency of the Dutch government in exile. The CID worked extensively with the resistance group Landelijke Knokploeg (LO). To the outside world, this house appeared to be an aid organization for sick people, but in reality the building was full of resistance fighters. It was nicknamed "the Monastery" because those on telephone duty were not allowed to leave the building. The CID had switchboards throughout the Netherlands, here in Utrecht Henk Das (pseudonym: Ruurd) manned the switchboard. He was also the leader of the LO in the province of Utrecht. Ruurd manned 'the Monastery' together with five couriers, Mieke Lagerwey, Corry Lagerwey, Anneke Baan ("miss Erna"), Iny Borg and Joke Das. At the risk of their lives, the couriers brought the messages that came into the switchboard to the proper destinations. They also distributed thousands of food stamps to those in hiding and need. Without their courage, the illegal telephone switchboard could never have operated successfully.
