Grachtengordel in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Gisèle

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, June 17, 2017

1. Gisèle Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Von 1940 tot 2013 leefde en werkte
hier de kunstenares
Gisèle
Ze bood onbaatzuchtig onderdak
aan vervolgden van de
naziterreur. In dit huis leeft
haar geest verder.

-

(English translation:) From 1940 to 2013 here lived and worked the artist, Gisele. She selflessly offered accommodation to those persecuted by the Nazi terror. In this house her spirit lives on.

Erected 2016.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • War, World II • Women. In addition, it is included in the The Holocaust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.

Location. 52° 22.072′ N, 4° 53.222′ E. Marker is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Grachtengordel. Marker is at the intersection of Herengracht and Beulingstraat, on the right when traveling north on Herengracht. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Herengracht 401, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1017 BX, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

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distance of this marker. In Gratitude for the Dutch Support of the American Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker); Keizersgracht 456-462 Residences (about 210 meters away, measured in a direct line); Joes Kloppenburg (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Raspuispoort / “Grating House” Gate (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Het Begijnhof (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Gerrit van Arkel (1858-1918) (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Taeke Ferwerda and Siebren van der Baan Memorial (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); John Adams (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.

Also see . . .
1. Gisèle d’Ailly van Waterschoot van der Gracht (Wikipedia). "Gisèle d’Ailly van Waterschoot van der Gracht (1912-2013), also known by the mononym Gisèle, was a Dutch visual artist. During World War II, she operated a safe house out of her home for a group of young Jewish people in Amsterdam....In 1940, van Waterschoot rented a small apartment on the third floor of the building Herengracht 401 in central Amsterdam. Soon after, the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands began. For the duration of the war, van Waterschoot secretly housed several people in her apartment including Wolfgang Frommel (a German poet, who was not Jewish), Jewish teenager Claus Victor Bock, Jewish

Gisèle Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, June 17, 2017

2. Gisèle Marker - wide view

The marker is visible here about 2 meters above the sidewalk, mounted to the building, between the two staircases.

writer Friedrich W. Buri, and others. While in hiding, the group of artists and writers codenamed their shelter "Castrum Peregrini" and covertly studied art and literature. The members of the group survived the war. After the end of World War II, van Waterschoot bought the apartment building to convert to a single home where she lived and worked on and off for the rest of her life. She later donated the building to the Castrum Peregrini foundation, which operates as a cultural center." (Submitted on January 14, 2020.)

2. Onderduikadres aan Herengracht opengesteld voor publiek (YouTube, 2016, in Dutch, 2 min.). Short newsclip in Dutch on the opening of the house to the public, with interior shots, an explanation of how Gisèle hid various artists during WW II, and a quick shot of the unveiling of the marker at the end. (Submitted on January 14, 2020.)

Dutch artist Gisèle van Waterschoot van der Gracht image. Click for full size.

Harry Pot (courtesy of the Nationaal Archief NL, via Wikimedia Commons, under CC license 1.0), September 3, 1957

3. Dutch artist Gisèle van Waterschoot van der Gracht

Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 14, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.