In early 1939, the Netherlands had many refugee camps for legal and illegal refugees. Ultimately, the Dutch government decided to build a Central Refugee Camp for Jews in the municipality of Westerbork
in the province of Drenthe.
Westerbork Central Refugee Camp being built, 1939. Unknown photographer, NIOD Collection, Amsterdam
In the winter of 1939-1940 the first groups of German Jews arrived in the Westerbork Unknown photographer, NIOD Collection, Amsterdam
The potato kitchen of the Westerbork Refugee Camp, early 1940.
Unknown photographer, NIOD Collection, Amsterdam
The team of painters was responsible for painting the barracks, early 1940. Unknown photographer, HCKW Collection, Hooghalen
In preparation of their emigration to Palestine young Jewish refugees receive training in agricultural professions in the Wieringermeer youth work village, 1930s. Unknown photographer, Spaarnestad Photo Collection, Haarlem
Jewish youth on a hay wagon in Wieringermeer, 1934 Photo taken by Roman Vishniak, JHM Collection, Amsterdam
In 1939, a group of young German Jewish refugees settled in the ‘Loosdrechtse Rade Pavilion' in Loosdrecht. There they prepared themselves for emigration to Palestine. During the day they some of them worked for farmers and craftsmen in the area in order to learn the profession. Unknown photographer, from: Mirjam Pinkhof, The youth aliyah from the Loosdrechtsche Rade Pavilion: 1939-1945, 2nd revised edition, Hilversum 1998
Jewish refugees at the Mijnsheerenland shelter, 1939. From left to right: Bernard Aschheim, Alfred Dübowski, Itsje Tiefenbrunner, and Mosje Kohn. When the German authorities closed the Mijnsheerenland shelter, they went to Loosdrecht, where the number of residents increased rapidly during the first months of war. Unknown photographer, from: Mirjam Pinkhof, The youth aliyah from the Loosdrechtsche Rade Pavilion: 1939-1945, 2nd revised edition, Hilversum 1998
From left to right: David Neiss, David Rosenbaum, Lilli Kellner, and Josef Waldmann in Loosdrecht.
Unknown photographer, from: Mirjam Pinkhof, The youth aliyah from the Loosdrechtsche Rade Pavilion: 1939-1945, 2nd revised edition, Hilversum 1998
Unknown photographer, from: Mirjam Pinkhof, The youth aliyah from the Loosdrechtsche Rade Pavilion: 1939-1945, 2nd revised edition, Hilversum 1998
Willi Gerler working for a farmer.
Unknown photographer, from: Mirjam Pinkhof, The youth aliyah from the Loosdrechtsche Rade Pavilion: 1939-1945, 2nd revised edition, Hilversum 1998
