The Rudelsheimfoundation, which opened in 1919, was dedicated to teaching mentally handicapped children skills enabling them to lead relatively independent lives. In the middle of the forests near Hilversum the foundation purchased a stately mansion and surrounding grounds and called it Beth Azarja. In 1930 a second building was constructed on the site, and the number of children rose to 75. In April 1942 the Wehrmacht confiscated the Rudelsheimstichting premises and opened its new headquarters there. The children were transferred to other accommodations in Hilversum. On 7 April 1943 all children were deported to the concentration camps in Eastern Europe.
In November/December 1942, the home of the Rudelsheimstichting at the Verdistraat got claimed by the occupation forces. The children were temporarily housed in the villa Monnikenberg at the Heideparkweg 51 (current address Soestdijkerstraatweg 151) in Hilversum.
Sources among others: Th.J. de Jongh, Van Rudelsheimstichting tot Van Helsdingenkazerne (Den Haag 1991) 18-19; Werkgroep Beschrijving Hilversums Verzet, 'Hilversum onderdrukking en verzet 1940-1945', (Hilversum 1985) 18-19; T. Coops e.a., Oorden van schoonheid : buitenplaatsen en landgoederen in Hilversum, (Hilversum 2000) 114-116.