Two sisters who as teenagers worked as couriers for the Dutch resistance during World War II have been recognised for their heroism, 70 years later.

Truus Menger-Oversteegen (90) and Freddie Dekker-Oversteegen (88) were on Tuesday awarded the Mobilisatie-Oorlogskruis (war mobilisation cross) for the work they did for the resistance.

This involved acting as couriers and stealing official identity papers, Nos television says. They were also involved in ‘armed action’ in Haarlem.

The women were awarded their medals by prime minister Mark Rutte.

Posthumous

Nos says the award ceremony is unusual because many members of the resistance were given posthumous medals.

The Oversteegen sisters worked together with Hannie Schaft – immortalised in the film The Girl with Red Hair – who was shot by firing squad in March 1945 at the age of 24.

In 1996, Truus Menger-Oversteegen set up the national Hannie Schaft foundation to promote the ideals shared by Schaft and the sisters to the next generations.