Osdorp in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Nel Hissink

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 16, 2024

1. Nel Hissink Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Cornelia van den Brink-Kossen
Amsterdam, 13 juni 1897 - Sachsenhausen, 24 november 1943

De communiste Nel Kossen was al jong actief in de antifascistische beweging. De naam Hissink nam ze aan van haar tweede man Coen, die net als zij tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog in het verzet zat. Ze werkte mee aan het illegale tijdschrift De Vrije Kunstenaar en vervalste persoonsbewijzen voor bevriende kunstenaars die de verplichte aanmelding bij de Kultuurkamer wilden omzeilen. Samen met haar dochter Marianne (schuilnaam Keesje Hissink) was ze betrokken bij de verzetsorganisatie CS-6. Vanuit een onderduikadres hielp ze mee met het voorbereiden van een aanslag op het Amsterdamse bevolkingsregister. In de zomer van 1943 werd bijna iedereen van de groep CS-6 gearresteerd. In concentratiekamp Sachenshausen werd Hissink samen met de verzetsstrijdsters Reina Prinsen Geerligs en Truus van Lier gefusilleerd. Volgens ooggetuigen liepen ze met opgeheven hoofd en zingend naar de plaats van executie.

(English translation:)
The communist Nel Kossen was active in the anti-fascist movement from an early

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age. She took the name Hissink from her second husband Coen, who, like her, was in the resistance during the Second World War. She contributed to the illegal magazine De Vrije Kunstenaar (“The Free Artist”) and forged identity cards for artist friends who wanted to avoid the mandatory registration with the Kultuurkamer (“Chamber of Culture”). Together with her daughter Marianne (alias Keesje Hissink), she was involved in the resistance organization CS-6. From a hiding place, she helped prepare an attack on the Amsterdam population register. In the summer of 1943, almost everyone in the CS-6 group was arrested. Hissink was shot in Sachenshausen concentration camp together with the resistance fighters Reina Prinsen Geerligs and Truus van Lier. According to eyewitnesses, they walked to the place of execution with their heads held high and singing.

Erected by Geef Straten Een Gezicht.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: 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 November 24, 1943.

Location. 52° 21.039′ N, 4° 47.243′ E. Memorial is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Osdorp.

Nel Hissink Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 16, 2024

2. Nel Hissink Marker - wide view

It is at the intersection of Nel Hissinkstraat and Iwan Kantemanplein, on the left when traveling north on Nel Hissinkstraat. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: Iwan Kantemanplein 60, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1060 RM, 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: Iwan Kanteman (within shouting distance of this marker); Anton Hölzel (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Jan Goldschmeding (about 120 meters away); Piet Nak (about 120 meters away); Peter Diesveld (about 120 meters away); Guus Reitsma (about 120 meters away); Jacob Paff (about 210 meters away); Anthoon Koejemans (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.

Also see . . .
1. Kossen, Cornelia (1897-1943) (Huygens Instituut, in Dutch).

Excerpt - Betrayal: In the summer of 1943, almost the entire CS6 group was rounded up: Nel Hissink and Dio Remiëns were probably betrayed by an infiltrator. The SD arrested the couple in Abcoude and transferred them to the House of Detention at the Weteringschans in Amsterdam for interrogation. Remiëns was shot in Overveen on October 1, 1943. Hissink was deported to the Amersfoort concentration camp with the resistance fighters Reina Prinsen Geerligs and Truus van Lier and then transferred to the Sachsenhausen camp in Oranienburg, Germany. On November 24, they were taken
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to the execution site, where, according to witnesses, they walked with their heads held high and singing. There, according to tradition, the three of them were executed. However, according to the civil registry, Nel Hissink died on October 27, 1943, at the age of 46.

On May 18, 2000, a street was named in memory of this forgotten resistance fighter in Amsterdam-Osdorp: the N. Hissinkstraat.

(Submitted on March 17, 2024.)

2. The Execution of Three Heroines (History of Sorts blog, Dirk de Klein).

Overview: On October 27, 1943, two Dutch resistance women—Nel Hissink, and Truus van Lier were executed in Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg, Reina Geerlings, was executed less than a month later, on November 24, 1943. All three women were shot. This was done in secret as it was not customary to shoot women.

(Submitted on March 17, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 317 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 17, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.