Geuzenveld-Slotermeer in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Frieda Belinfante

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 1, 2022

1. Frieda Belinfante Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Frieda Belinfante
Amsterdam, 10 mei 1904 - Santa Fe, 5 maart 1995

Celliste en dirigente Frieda Belinfante hief in 1940 haar Klein Orkest op om te voorkomen dat ze haar Joodse musicí zou moeten ontslaan en werk van Joodse componisten niet meer zou mogen uitvoeren. Ze ging in het verzet, sloot zich aan bij Groep 2000 van Jacoba van Tongeren en hielp bij het vinden van onderduikadressen. Ze regelde financiële steun voor musici die de ariërverklaring weigerden te tekenen en vervalste samen met drukker Frans Duwaer 70.000 persoonsbewijzen. Met Willem Arondeus was ze betrokken bij de aanslag op het Amsterdams bevolkingsregister, waarbij duplicaten van persoonsbewijzen in vlammen opgingen. Toen leden van haar verzetsgroep kort daarna werden opgepakt, dook ze onder. Vermomd als man ontkwam ze naar Zwitserland, waar ze in een vluchtelingenkamp verbleef.

Na de oorlog voelde ze zich niet meer welkom in Nederland en emigreerde ze naar Californië, waar ze haar muziekcarrière met succes voortzette.

(English translation:)

Cellist and conductor Frieda Belinfante

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disbanded her Klein Orkest (“little orchestra”) in 1940 to avoid having to fire her Jewish musicians, and after no longer being allowed to perform works by Jewish composers. She joined the resistance, joining Jacoba van Tongeren’s Group 2000, and helped find hiding places. She arranged financial support for musicians who refused to sign the Aryan declaration and, together with printer Frans Duwaer, forged 70,000 identity cards. She was involved with Willem Arondeus in the attack on the Amsterdam population register, in which duplicates of identity cards went up in flames. When members of her resistance group were arrested shortly afterwards, she went into hiding. Disguised as a man, she escaped to Switzerland, where she lived in a refugee camp.

After the war, she no longer felt welcome in the Netherlands and emigrated to California, where she successfully continued her music career.

Erected by Geef Straten Een Gezicht.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • War, World II • Women. In addition, it is included in the Give Streets a Face / Geef Straten Een Gezicht, and the Heroes of the Dutch Resistance (GSEG) series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is May 10, 1904.

Location. 52° 22.935′ N, 4° 50.255′

Frieda Belinfante Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 1, 2022

2. Frieda Belinfante Marker - wide view

E. Memorial is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Geuzenveld-Slotermeer. It is at the intersection of Burgemeester Vening Meineszlaan and Frieda Belinfantebrug, on the left when traveling east on Burgemeester Vening Meineszlaan. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1061 HC, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Benelux Low Countries,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire

and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bertus van Grouw (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Hendrik Dienske (about 180 meters away); Fritz Conijn (about 180 meters away); Anton Schweigmann (about 180 meters away); Ferry Ploeger (about 210 meters away); Anna Luisa Geertruida Bosboom Toussaint: Majoor Frans (about 210 meters away); Jan Bakker (about 210 meters away); Wiardi Beckman (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.

Also see . . .
1. Frieda Belinfante.

Excerpt: Frieda Belinfante (May 10, 1904 in Amsterdam – March 5, 1995 in Santa Fe, New Mexico) was a Portuguese Sephardic-Dutch cellist, philharmonic conductor, a prominent lesbian and a member of the Dutch resistance during World War II. After the war, Belinfante immigrated to the United States and continued her career in music. She was the founding artistic director and conductor of the Orange County Philharmonic.

(Submitted on November 19, 2022.)

2. The Frieda Belinfante Collection (Curators Corner #26) (YouTube, 3 min.)

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. A short clip presented by US Holocaust Memorial Museum discussing Frieda Belinfante. Includes short excerpts of interviews with her that were done shortly before her death. (Submitted on November 19, 2022.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 232 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 19, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.