Major Bosshardt: the story of a remarkable woman
Major Bosshardt may very well be the most well-known member of the Dutch arm of The Salvation Army ever. Between 1950 and 2000, she worked in Amsterdam with people nobody else cared to notice: prostitutes, addicts and the homeless. The major took them into her own home if the situation called for it. In addition to this, she saved multiple (Jewish) children from a children’s home during World War II, by taking them to hiding addresses where they would be safe from the enemy.
Major Alida Bosshardt was a remarkable woman, who was happiest when she could be a blessing to vulnerable people around her. She continues to be a source of inspiration for many Dutch people and Salvationists today. You can visit and take a tour through the house she used to live in and hear more about her life story.
Major Bosshardt’s life story
Alida Bosshardt was born in 1913 in Utrecht to believing parents. At the age of 18, she was deeply touched by God’s love during an open air service organized by the Salvation Army and became a believer herself. When she was 19, she became a Salvationist: member of the Salvation Army church.
Alida felt she was called to put her faith into action by becoming a Salvation Officer. During her studies, she worked in a children’s home in Utrecht. In 1933, she graduated the Salvation Officer training program at 20 years old. As an officer, she worked in Rotterdam for a year and then moved to Amsterdam, where she worked in a children’s home called Zonnehoek.
Amsterdam was exactly where Major Bosshardt was meant to be. In 1948, she received an official order from the Salvation Army to start goodwill work in the city. In 1951, she even got her own home to work from, the building that is now called the Major Bosshardt house.
Major Bosshardt worked among the vulnerable in Amsterdam for 30 years and was a great blessing to many. In 1978, she retired. By then, she had become a celebrity: Princess Beatrix even joined her in her work one time. She stayed humble, however, and said: “I am in service of God to serve people. Not to me, but to Him be all the glory.” Major Bosshardt passed on June 25, 2007, 94 years old.
