Historical journeys & research
Private historical journeys, family and archival research, and history talks — personally led by Martin van Elmpt.
All my life I have been a student of history. Not just of what happened, but of the people who lived through it, the choices they faced and the stories behind the facts.
At When Then Was Now, I can help you with your research and put our findings in perspective. I offer on site journeys, based on your personal research or your interests. And we can travel online, in a group or a private remote journey to where the stories take us.
RESEARCH
Historical Research
Archival and family history research into people, places and events — with or without a journey.
ON LOCATION
Tours & Journeys
Private historical journeys to battlefields, remembrance sites, family places and Dutch heritage locations.
IN CONVERSATION
Live Talks
Historical talks for groups and interactive online journeys, using maps, sources and discussion.
WRITING
Stories & Projects
Articles, published stories and a look at research I am currently working on.
The same questions and sources run through all four: research can lead to a journey, a talk or a written story.
When Then Was Now
We look at the past as something that happened then, but for the people living through it, it was happening now.
Looking back in time, we have the advantage of knowing how things turned out in the end. But when you have to make choices, sometimes hard ones, you don’t yet know what the outcome will be.
In my research and storytelling, I always keep that perspective in mind. Our ancestors had to make choices, sometimes in extraordinary circumstances, without knowing what would happen next.
Whether I am searching through archives, following someone’s personal history or visiting the places where events unfolded, I try to see things from the perspective of the people who were there. To understand not only what happened, but also what they knew, what they believed and what choices they faced.
I can help you with your own historical research, take you to the places where it all happened, or share these perspectives in talks and presentations.
Together, we can try to understand what life was like when then was now.
HISTORY IN PRACTICE
Two Stories
A visit to Westerbork and the reconstruction of my father’s wartime journey show two sides of the same work: investigating the records and visiting the places where history happened.
FEATURED RESEARCH · 1944–1945
Following my father’s journey
My father left an account of being sent from Amsterdam to Germany during the final winter of the war. I have been comparing his memories with documents, other accounts and the places he described.
The research is also a reminder that a personal memory and the historical record do not always tell exactly the same story.
FEATURED JOURNEY · NETHERLANDS
Camp Westerbork: a journey of remembrance
At the former Westerbork transit camp, memorials and traces in the landscape tell the story of persecution and deportation during the German occupation of the Netherlands.
A private visit offers historical context, time for reflection and, where relevant, a connection to your own family story.
RESEARCH IN PROGRESS
Current Projects
Research rarely ends with one document. These are some of the stories I am currently investigating.
Karel van Elmpt
Reconstructing my father’s journey into forced labour in Germany in 1944–45, using his memoir, wartime records and testimonies.
Johan Overdiek and the GEB
Tracing the people and connections behind an Amsterdam resistance network and its clandestine news bulletin, Etappe der Ineenstorting.
The Punt Case
Investigating the death of Petrus Punt in 1944 and examining the accounts and documents that may explain what happened in Alkmaar.
INTRODUCING
I’m Martin van Elmpt
I’m a historical investigator, writer, speaker and private guide, based in Alkmaar in the Netherlands. Much of my work concerns World War II, Dutch history and personal or family stories.
I spend a lot of time reading, searching archives and comparing sources. But I also visit the places themselves. Being there can make a document clearer — or raise a question I had not considered.
I love storytelling, and every good story begins with listening. When I take someone on a journey, I want to know what interests them and what they hope to find. “It’s your day,” I always say — and I mean it.
A GUEST’S EXPERIENCE
From Amsterdam to Auschwitz
I highly recommend contacting Martin if you’re looking for a WWII tour like my Amsterdam to Auschwitz tour. Even 1 or 2 day tours of Amsterdam alone or one of his other journeys you see posted on his website. You can also customize your own trip!
Thank you, Martin, for making my bucket list journey remarkable.
— Chris
Who Remembers?
Some answers aren’t in archives. They’re in people’s memories. Here is what I am looking for.
My father’s journey
- Transport lists or names linked to the Liese Aktion, Kampen, Lehrte and Fischbeck (1944–45).
- Letters, diaries, photographs or accounts from men sent on this route.
- Information about the Gestapo name list and how the transports were organised.
The Punt Case
- Eyewitness accounts or family stories about Petrus Punt’s death near Alkmaar in 1944.
- Names of people who knew him or witnessed events surrounding the case.
- Police records, photographs, letters or newspaper reports.
Etappe der Ineenstorting
- Original issues or copies of this clandestine wartime bulletin.
- Names of its writers, printers and distributors.
- Documents or memories of resistance activity at Amsterdam’s GEB.
The camps after Liberation
- Names and locations of internment and labour camps around Alkmaar after May 1945.
- Memories of detainees, staff or nearby residents.
- Photographs, letters, camp lists and records of daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some practical questions before we start.
Can I commission research without booking a journey?
Yes. I can investigate a person, family, place or event as a separate research project. We discuss your question and the available sources before deciding on the scope.
Are your historical journeys private?
Yes. My journeys are private and can be adapted to your interests, whether that is a battlefield, a remembrance site, Dutch history or a personal family story. You can explore the options on the Journeys page.
Can research and a journey be combined?
Often, yes. Archive findings can help identify places worth visiting. We first establish what is known and then discuss whether a visit makes sense and can be arranged.
Do you give talks or online presentations?
I give historical talks for groups and am developing interactive online journeys. Tell me about your audience and topic, and we can discuss what is possible.
GET IN TOUCH
Have a journey or a question in mind?
Tell me what you are interested in. Whether you want to visit a place, investigate a family story or arrange a talk, we can start with a conversation.