Alida Bosshardt

Lives Lived  | Zoe Fay on the officer in the red brick house

T

he journal entry of Lieutenant Colonel Alida Margaretha Bosshardt during her first year of service as an officer in the Netherlands is a chorus by Colonel Edward Joy. The lines from her journal were her credo, which became embodied through her actions and words.

All my days, and all my hours, All my will and all my powers, All the passion of my soul, Not a fragment, but the whole, Shall be Thine, dear Lord, Shall be Thine, dear Lord.

Bosshardt lived to re-connect broken relationships, from people to God and between neighbours. She endeavoured to bridge these gaps no matter how wide the distance. Bosshardt would often say to those asking for help, “Here is my hand”. She offered practical help, her work being that of a social service Salvation Army officer. Bosshardt knew that without salvation, and without her calling to be an evangelist, the work was only half done.

Bosshardt was widely known for her work in Amsterdam’s inner city and Red Light district where she lived and ministered for 30 years. She had been appointed to oversee the Army’s goodwill work in Holland in 1948, with the specific task of opening work in the heart of Amsterdam. Once commissioned to this task Bosshardt set about finding the right location to base her social work and evangelism centre. In 1951 the Army purchased a red brick house in the centre of Amsterdam, with its neighbouring streets being those of the Red Light district - this became The Salvation Army Goodwill Centre.

This Salvation Army officer knew that the work of the centre had to fund itself and she did everything possible to make sure of it. She set up a network and route where she would sell The War Cry to pubs, football clubs and all whom she met. During her life she would met Princess Beatrix of Holland, and even appeared on the TV show This is Your Life, through which she gained donations for the Goodwill Centre. Every opportunity was harvested. She was always conscious to spend only what could be afforded. Her office by day became her sleeping quarters by night. Bosshardt’s thrifty manner was a discipline from her childhood.

Bosshardt was introduced to the Army through her adoptive brother Jan who invited her to an Army service. The Army opened its doors to a young Alida then, and the journey that would lead to Alida’s life in ministry had begun. At the age of 19 Alida says she had “consciously committed herself to God”, became a soldier and decided to train as an officer. Her officer training was not without its hiccups but her attributes for helping others shone through. Her family was sure that she would turn back from officership and her mother even kept a spare room at home ready for her. When Alida was asked how she could take on such a heavy burden, she replied, “It is not too heavy for me”.

After World War II, Alida was appointed to headquarters as an administrator in the Women’s Social Services Department. Her role at headquarters was the start of her distinguished work. The headquarters switchboard would light up with those requesting help in post-war Holland. Bosshardt’s people had not gone unnoticed amongst her colleagues and “send them to Bosshardt” soon became the norm. She met this new role with enthusiasm, and her work quickly included the hours after 5pm and before 9am. She knew that human need did not keep time.

When she opened the Goodwill Centre this was a practice that she continued. After a night of ministry on the street, with the tunes from the songsters filling the air, led by the Army flag, greeting all who they met, coffee, handshakes and conversation, Bosshardt would retire to her one room to sleep. The lights of the Red Light district below would still be glaring their garish colours, the noise of the pubs would hang in the night air, while the girls would be out working. There would be a knock at the door, and Bosshardt would be quick to respond, the door would be open and ready to listen to those that came to her. She made herself available to be with people, provide practical help, to pray, and give guidance. Bosshardt could be firm but she knew that Christ came for sinners. Bosshardt knew the girls by name, and she was proud to know them. She would introduce her neighbourhood to others without any feelings of awkwardness. “This is my neighbourhood”, became a statement of belonging and shared relationship.

The world of Lieut.-Colonel Alida Bosshardt has been described as one of consistency and competence to all in need. She did not go in her own strength, but in Christ, knowing Him and sharing Him with others. The following words hung on the wall of Bosshardt’s one room that was her office, her living room, holy space and night shelter. Her life embodied this text:

The glory of life is
to love, not to be loved:
to give, not get:
to serve, not to be served:
to be a strong hand in the dark
to another in time of need:
to be a cup of strength to any soul
In a crisis of weakness
this is to know
the glory of life.

Alida Bosshardt was born on 8 June 1913. In 1962 she was awarded the Order of the Founder, and she was Promoted to Glory on 25 June 2007.

Writer: Zoe Fay became a Christian at the age of fourteen, and first met The Salvation Army through the UK Territory Timothy Programme. After graduating from Timothy, Zoe moved to Toronto, Canada to live in the neighbourhood of Regent Park under the training of Majors Geoff and Sandra Ryan. Zoe is a first generation Salvationist, and aims to share her life with others. The need is the call. She is currently on sabbatical in Northern Ireland.

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