The Upstairs Room

One of Annie’s older sisters, Sini de Leeuw is the sister who goes with Annie to hide. Before they go into hiding, Sini falls in love with the synagogue teacher, Mr. Herschel, who is taken away by the Germans. While in hiding, Sini struggles with isolation and worries that she’s missing out on life. Although her worries about her appearance may seem shallow at times, her concern runs deeper, reflecting that she feels she’ll be unable to meet someone and start a life like other girls her age. This sentiment is evident when they go a long stretch without listening to the radio and Sini says, “Annie, how will we ever find out when the war’s over if we don’t listen to the radio? The papers won’t tell us. We’ll just sit here all our lives. I can’t stand it any longer. Let me out!” (117-18). When Sini references their being stuck there for their entire lives, she suggests that their ability to do something with their life—get a job, meet people, start families—is slipping away. Her frustration emerges in angrily demanding to be let out.

However, Sini’s anger is at their situation, not the Oostervelds or Annie, to whom she shows small kindnesses: When Opoe sits with the girls and struggles to darn socks, Sini kindly takes them from her and helps, and (even though Annie doesn’t appreciate it) Sini cares for her younger sister by teaching her mathematics and encouraging her to exercise every day, nurturing her like a mother would. Despite her frustration at their situation, Sini still cares for those around her.

A compassionate man, Johan Oosterveld looks out for the girls from the moment they arrive. While his wife, Dientje, nags him relentlessly about returning Annie and Sini to Mr. Hannink, he focuses on keeping them safe, even chastising her: “Goddammit, woman, don’t talk about it again” (74). He shuts down all talk of returning the girls because he wants them to stay, as is evident when the following day he declares that he won’t talk to Mr. Hannink about their return. Furthermore, he builds a hiding space for them in the closet that isn’t as terrifying as Mr. Hannink’s underground cavern. Additionally, Johan is unable to deny the girl’s requests. He often takes them downstairs to listen to the radio, surreptitiously carts them outside to get sunshine, and even procures false papers and a job for Sini. Johan’s love for the girls is most evident when he returns after going into hiding himself. When he fetches them from Mr. Hannink’s hiding spot, he says, “I’m furious at those women. Are you crazy sitting here like a couple of moles? Come on out. We’re going home” (170). Johan is angry that Opoe and Dientje sent the girls away because he fears that they’re in just as much danger sitting underground like “moles.” Furthermore, when he tells them they’re leaving, he doesn’t say they’re going to “my house” or to the “farm,” but instead says “home,” indicating that he views Annie and Sini as part of his family. Johan truly cares for the girls and shows his compassion in many ways throughout the novel, acting as a father figure to them.

Johan Oosterveld’s wife, Dientje Oosterveld, cares for the girls while they hide in her house but also represents the dilemma facing those who hid Jews: She wants to help but fears the consequences if they’re caught. Initially, Dientje constantly asks when Mr. Hannink will return, always noting the peril that the Oostervelds face. Despite this fear, she truly cares for the girls and wants to make sure they’re happy. When they request a book to read, she goes to the minister’s house under the ruse that Johan wants to read. Annie tells Dientje that she’s wonderful and notes that “it was almost embarrassing to see how happy she was” (82). Dientje’s joy is palpable; if she only felt upset by the danger their presence caused, she wouldn’t want to please them so much. This moment highlights Dientje’s genuine love for the girls.

However, her compassion doesn’t always dissipate her terror. After two years, when Johan goes into hiding to evade the Germans, Dientje panics and sends the girls to the underground hiding place, and Annie hears snippets of Dientje’s conversation with Opoe: “…dangerous…if…that’s it…shot…those murder camps…ja, ja, …what do you know. We’ll take ’em back when Johan gets home again” (168). The words between the ellipses emphasize the dangers they face: getting shot or being sent to a death camp. Dientje’s panic at these possibilities means that she doesn’t listen to Opoe, the “you” she refers to. Without Johan there to reason with her and protect the family, Dientje’s fears take precedence, highlighting that even though she loves the girls dearly, their presence puts her family in a precarious situation.