German propaganda, the rise of an underground resistance, and extensive rationing, movement restrictions, and mandatory blackouts were all part of Dutch life during the 1940–1945 German occupation of the Netherlands. A sizable section of the Jewish people was deported and killed, and the populace was forced to make tough decisions about resistance and cooperation. The complexity of Dutch society's wartime experience led to the emergence of a complicated post-war narrative.

There was strict rationing of essentials like bread, meat, and milk during the German occupation. People had to follow curfews and blackouts, and they faced punishment for having lights on. Travel became challenging due to the confiscation of essential resources like copper and bronze and the severe restrictions placed on gasoline. The Germans spread propaganda encouraging cooperation among the Dutch. At the same time, a strong underground resistance was active, publishing illegal newspapers and using the BBC to disseminate the messages of the Dutch government-in-exile.  Particularly after 1943, when the Germans started enlisting Dutch men for forced labor, the Dutch resistance rose markedly. Printing covert newspapers, disseminating them via a national network, and helping those who were hiding were all part of this movement.