Van Zanten worked as an au pair in France for a year and a half, and sailed alone on cargo ships to visit her brother in America.

[2] Van Zanten wanted to become an air stewardess for KLM, the Netherlands' flag carrier airline, but was rejected in 1936 as she did not have a gymnasium diploma (secondary education qualification).

[2] After the fall of the Netherlands, the KVV was abolished but Van Zanten heard on a BBC radio broadcast that female transport pilots were being sought in Britain.

She eventually managed to reach Switzerland, and with help from former KLM colleagues she got to Lisbon and was able to fly to London by plane on 13 August 1942[3] with a group of Engelandvaarders including Wil Kalkhoven.

[3] From the WAAF, van Zanten was able to join the female pilots in the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) under Commandant Pauline Gower.

[7][8][2] On 7 February 1947, Queen Wilhelmina awarded van Zanten the Vliegerkruis (Flying Cross) for "distinguishing herself by acts of initiative, courage and perseverance during one or more flights in an aircraft, by being classified in the rank of officer in the field of aviation in the period from 18 May 1943 to 30 September 1945, being assigned to the rank of officer in the organisation of the "Air Transport Auxiliary", as pilot to transfer various types of planes of the Allied Air Force from factories in Great Britain to various Allied war bases and to make 583 flying hours in solo flights".

[5] After the war, with a British friend, van Zanten flew a twin-engine M.57 Miles Aerovan with six passengers to South Africa, where she became a partner in a small aviation company.

[2] In 1990, Ida Veldhuyzen van Zanten was awarded the Koninklijke Nederlandse Vereniging voor Luchtvaart the Royal Dutch Aeronautical Society's golden wings pin.

Ida Veldhuyzen van Zanten's ATA uniform is held at the Engelandvaarders Museum in Noordwijk aan Zee, South Holland.