Hans van Messel lived with his family at J.W. Brouwersplein 18, Amsterdam. Today that street is known as Concertgebouwplein.
Photos in the Amsterdam City Archives identify Hans with his class at Derde HBS-B (Mauritskade 58-59) in 1939 and 1940. The 1940 class photo was taken two days before the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium and France.
In Politieverzet in Haarlem, Guus Hartendorf stated that Hans was at the home of Casper ten Boom in Haarlem when it was raided on 28 February 1944. Hans Poley, an onderduiker at the Ten Boom home who later wrote Return to the Hiding Place, confirmed that account. Hans van Messel hid in a secret space in the Ten Booms’ home with four other Jews and one other resistance worker. They were freed over 40 hours later. Hans was arrested in Haarlem on 26 August 1944 and sent to Camp Vught. On 5 September 1944 he was executed at its Fusilladeplaats with many other resistance fighters specifically targeted for death by SS officer Erich Deppner. (Yad Vashem Central Database of Shoah Victims' Names)