The VKAJ department (Female Catholic Working YouthThe [name] in Heist appears to have been particularly active during the war in organizing leisure activities for young girls, especially from fishing and working-class backgrounds. Consequently, the diary is brimming with descriptions of gatherings involving dance, song, theater, games, gymnastics, and walks. It is striking that the concept of “recreation” is explicitly included in the program on the very first pages—a clear indication of the importance attached to it.
These activities were more than mere pastimes. In a context of scarcity, uncertainty, and threat, they offered a necessary outlet: a way to keep the harsh reality of the war at bay for a while. In this way, the VKAJ fulfilled an important social role by bringing young women together and giving them a sense of community and stability.
In Heist, moreover, this took on a specific form. Many girls worked in the so-called 'Mat factory', where camouflage nets were manufactured for the German Atlantic Wall—work intended to exempt them from forced labor in Germany. Against this backdrop, the diary takes on an extra dimension: it documents not only leisure, but also how it was intertwined with the daily reality of labor and occupation.
The diary was kept from 1943 by Vé Desmedt, a young leader within the VKAJ, who took it over from a predecessor and continued to add to it until her departure from Heist in 1944. The diary was preserved by her son Karel Osstyn, who recently registered it with Archiefpunt as part of the project War diaries.
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Archiefpunt is a national service organization focused on private archives and collections in Flanders and Brussels. These archives, originating from individuals, families, and private institutions, form an important part of our cultural heritage but are often overlooked, lost, or destroyed. Archiefpunt was established to change this and raises awareness about the importance of preserving these archives. By providing practical support in the areas of digitization, inventory, and awareness, Archiefpunt contributes to the preservation of our collective memory. With this project, Archiefpunt specifically aims to highlight the importance of war diaries due to their exceptional value as sources for our history.
