The Assault

The timeline begins with the Nazi occupation in January 1945 and follows Anton Steenwijk through the ensuing decades of Dutch society. It moves from the immediacy of war to the 1950s, 1960s, and into the 1980s, capturing evolving political and social currents. The period encompasses the Cold War, the Provo movement, and large anti-nuclear demonstrations, illustrating how memory and history intertwine with public life.

The story unfolds across Dutch towns surrounding Haarlem and Amsterdam, including the Steenwijks' neighborhood and nearby streets where a house is torched. The setting anchors a wartime incident and its reverberations through decades of postwar life, as ordinary streets witness memories that refuse to fade. The landscape of quiet neighborhoods, police stations, and monuments frames the mystery of what happened that night.

🧠 Memory

Memory drives the narrative as a lifelong burden and clue, shaping how the protagonist perceives his past. Small, ambiguous details and chance encounters expose the limits of what is remembered and what remains hidden. The story shows memory as imperfect, selective, and emotionally charged, never providing neat answers.

⚖️ Morality

The text scrutinizes how people judge actions during occupation, balancing revenge, justice, and forgiveness. It reveals the murky gray areas where intention and consequence diverge, and where victims and perpetrators alike grapple with guilt. Through conversations and reflections, the moral complexity of that era comes into sharper relief.

🕯️ Truth

Truth emerges piecemeal through dialogue and memory, not through a single revelation. The protagonist uncovers competing versions of events, each colored by time and perspective. The pursuit of an objective truth is challenged by memory's fragility and the shifting currents of history.