Amsterdam Oud-West , North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Dirk van Nimwegen (1904-1969), Verzetsman (Member of the Resistance)
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 18, 2024
1. Dirk van Nimwegen (1904-1969), Verzetsman (Member of the Resistance) Marker
One of the initiators of the strike organized by the illegal CPN (Dutch Communist Party) of February 25, 1941, as a protest against the persecution of Jews by Nazi Germany, Dirk van Nimwegen was a member of the municipal cleaning department at the Bilderdijk quay. He made the call for the Strike on the Noordermarkt. The February Strike is commemorated every year by the Dokwerker (statue of a dock worker on Jonas Daniël Meijerplein in Amsterdam that commemorates the workers who took part in the February Strike).
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Labor Unions • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is February 25, 1941.
Location. 52° 21.922′ N, 4° 52.026′
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Gerard Borst (about 180 meters away, measured in a direct line); Hannie Dankbaar (about 210 meters away); Arie Biemond (about 240 meters away); Kanaalstraat / Canal Street (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Wenslauerstraat / Wenslau Street (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Koningin Wilhelmina / Queen Wilhelmina (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Marius van Bouwdijk Bastiaanse (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Jan Hanzenstraat (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Dirk van Nimwegen (Wikipedia, in Dutch).
Overview (in translation): Dirk van Nimwegen (1904 - 1969) was an Amsterdam communist, resistance fighter and one of the initiators of the February strike in 1941. He worked for the City Cleaning Department.(Submitted on March 20, 2024.)
Van Nimwegen was one of the speakers during an illegal meeting on the Noordermarkt on February 24, 1941 that called for the strike. He was appointed for this purpose by the leadership of the then illegal CPN. Other speakers there included Lou Jansen and Willem Kraan.
Van Nimwegen survived the war and continued to work at the City Cleaning Department. In 1955 he was fired by the municipality of Amsterdam, along with 61 others, for calling for a strike. He was not rehabilitated until 1985….Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 18, 20242. Dirk van Nimwegen Marker - wide view
2. February strike (Wikipedia).
Overview: The February strike (Dutch: Februaristaking) of 1941 was a general strike in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II. It was organized by the outlawed Communist Party of the Netherlands in defence of persecuted Dutch Jews and against the anti-Jewish measures and the activities of Nazism in general.(Submitted on March 20, 2024.)
The direct causes were a series of arrests and pogroms held by the Germans in the Jewish neighbourhood of Amsterdam, the Jodenbuurt. It started on 25 February 1941 and lasted for two days. On 26 February, 300,000 Amsterdam people joined the strike. The strike was harshly suppressed by the Germans after three days.
Although the February strike is considered to be the first public protest against the Nazis in occupied Europe, it was quickly suppressed. There was no major citizen action public action after the top Nazi official, Reichskommissar Seyss-Inquart, warned the Dutch public that there would be draconian consequences.…
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 18, 2024
3. Dirk van Nimwegen Marker - wider view
The marker is visible here on the complex that bears his name.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 46 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 20, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
