Beelaerts Blokland, “Mickey” Jan Jacob Gerard.

Beelaerts Blokland, “Mickey” Jan Jacob Gerard, born 12-12-1909 in Oosterbeek, the son of the member of the Senate Johannes Beelaerts van Blokland (1877-1960), who in turn was a brother of minister Frans Beelaerts van Blokland (1872-1956). Mickey studied at the Royal Military Academy in Breda after which he went to give a cavalry training lesson in Amersfoort. In 1936, he befriended prins Bernhard von Lippe Biestervelt when he came to the Netherlands to marry Juliana. After the German invasion on 10 May 1940, Beelaerts van Blokland went back to the parental home in Oosterbeek and joined the resistance. On the rumor that the Germans kept an eye on him, he took it safe and fled in May 1941 together with three other England Crusaders in a stolen German seaplane to England. Jr. Beelaerts van Blokland (r) in conversation with British General Charles Waterhouse.

The plane, which was above England arrived was equipped by the British air defenses of swastikas, fired upon. After an emergency landing, they were waylaid by the coastguard, after which they were brought under police guidance to London. There Beelaerts van Blokland took contact with Queen Wilhelmina

   He persuaded her to Prince Bernhard Supreme Commander of the armed forces; This would be a wish of the Dutch resistance. Beelaerts van Blokland was commander of the Princess Irene Brigade in the rank of major, and took part in the Landing in Normandy and the battle of Arnhem. After World War II he was involved in the reestablishment of the Dutch cavalry. As admirer of Prince Bernhard he wanted to organize a tribute for this in 1976 at his 65^th birthday.  Because now the Lockheed affair erupted went the tribute was not through. Beelaerts van Blokland organized the in 1981 in the garden of Soestdijk Palace. It was repeated every five years since then.  Beelaerts van Blokland was distinguished among other several times: he was an officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau, Knight of the French order of the Legion of honor, Legion d’Honneur, bearer of the bronze cross, a military decoration, and after his military career, he was promoted to Brigadier General of Cavalry titular.

Mickey died at the very old age of 95 on 14-11-2005, at his home in his native village Oosterbeek,  in September 1944 the perimeter of the English Airborne’s after the failing of Operation Market Garden, a bridge too far and is buried on the cemetery Oud Eik en Duinen in Den Haque, Netherlands. Close by the grave of World War II,  Minister Preident of Holland in exill, Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy

  

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