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1939 The threat of war

Refugees and immigrants

groep vluchtelingen© Beeldbank WO2 / NIOD

The Netherlands refuse Jewish refugees

Jewish refugees from Germany pose in front of the Oostelijke Handelskade number 12 in Amsterdam.

Between 1933 and 1935 about 25,000 German Jewish refugees arrive in the Netherlands. Many use the Netherlands as a stop-over and travel on to other destinations. The Netherlands doesn’t want to appear too attractive as a country for refugees. For this reason certain jobs and professions are ‘protected’. From 1937 it’s virtually impossible for foreigners to establish themselves in the Netherlands. 

Undesirable foreigners

In January 1938 the Justice and Home Office meet to discuss how to stop the stream of refugees coming into the country. They decide to stop any more refugees entering the country. From now on every refugee is seen as undesirable unless they can prove they are in physical danger. Despite protests from other political parties, the law is passed. 

No review after the Kristallnacht

On 12 March 1938 the annexation of Austria takes place, the Anschluss. Now Austrian Jews want to leave the country. On 9 November the pogrom in Germany commonly known as the Kristallnacht takes place. Nearly 200 synagogues are set on fire and 7,500 shops are destroyed and looted. More than 100 Jews are murdered. The Nazis arrest 30,000 Jewish men and send them to concentration camps. These events do not cause the Dutch government to review their policy regarding refugees. The borders remain closed to Jewish refugees.

Housed in camps

After the Kristallnacht more than 40,000 Jews apply for a visa to enter the Netherlands. At first the Dutch government sticks to its policy, but eventually 7,000 are granted a visa. They are put in camps and have no freedom of movement. Another 2,000 refugees enter the Netherlands illegally, but are not sent back for humanitarian reasons. They come under military supervision and are put in separate camps. All these refugees have left Germany for the same reason, they fear persecution.

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Refugees and immigrants

After Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany in 1933, tens of thousands of Jews decide to leave their fatherland and to chance their luck elsewhere. A large number move to neighboring country the Netherlands. In 1941 the number of German Jewish refugees in the Netherlands totals 15,174.

Political and Jewish refugees are accepted, but the Dutch government also sends many back. The Jewish community is responsible for looking after the refugees.

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1938 Many Jewish refugees after Kristallnacht

Many Jewish refugees flee to the Netherlands after Kristallnacht. Princess Juliana also feels connected to the Jewish community. But while more attention is drawn to the admittance of more Jews, NSB members threaten more intervention.

1938  Many Jewish refugees after Kristallnacht

1940 Amsterdam occupied

Nothing changes too much for the Frank family in the beginning. Opekta moves to the Prinsengracht. During air raids bombs cause death and injury in Amsterdam.

1940  Amsterdam occupied

1941 Jews allowed to do and less

It starts with a cinema ban but rapidly Jews are banned from virtually all public places. Jewish children must attend separate schools. This also applies to Anne and Margot Frank.

1941  Jews allowed to do and less

1942 It becomes more dangerous for Jews

On her thirteenth birthday Anne Frank receives a diary. A few days later she writes about the situation in Amsterdam. The introduction of the Jewish star and the raids. In July the Frank family goes into hiding.

1942  It becomes more dangerous for Jews

1943 Deportations and attacks

While the Frank family is in hiding thousands of Jews are deported from Amsterdam. The resistance tries to hinder the deportations by attacks including one on the Public Registry. It doesn’t stop them.

1943  Deportations and attacks

1944 Discovered and arrested

On 4 August the people in hiding in the secret annex are discovered and arrested. From Westerbork they are taken to Auschwitz. When the Allies land in the south of the Netherlands there is hope that the country will be liberated. German soldiers and NSB members flee the country after Dolle Dinsdag (‘Mad Tuesday’).

1944  Discovered and arrested

1945 Joy and sadness

A celebration at the Dam on 7 May is ruined when people are killed after German soldiers shoot at the crowd. On 8 May Amsterdam is officially liberated. Otto Frank returns. He knows that Edith is dead. He only hears later that his two daughters have not survived.

1945  Joy and sadness

1946 Slowly the threads are picked up again

On 3 May 1946 the first official commemoration for those who died during the war is held. Anne Frank’s diary is published on 25 June 1947. Life in Amsterdam slowly gets back to normal. Of the 70,000 Jews who lived in the city in 1940 only 10,000 have survived the war.

1946  Slowly the threads are picked up again

1950 Lasting memory

Even five years after the liberation the reverberations from the war are still clearly noticeable. The Jewish community thanks Amsterdam for the help given to Jews with a monument.

1950  Lasting memory
  • 1950

  • To those who protected the Dutch Jews during the years of the occupation. Protected by your love. Encouraged by your resistance. Mourning with you.

    Part of the citation on the monument ‘Jewish Gratitude’
  • picture:Once a year, two minutes silence

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