Osdorp in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Piet Nak
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 16, 2024
1. Piet Nak Marker
Amsterdam, 28 december 1906 - Haarlem, 16 december 1996
Voor vuilnisman en communist Piet Nak maakte het niet uit wat je afkomst of geloof was. "Als iemand in het water ligt, kun je niet eerst kijken of het een slechte is. Dan moet je erin springen om hem te redden." Hij was samen met stratenmaker Willem Kraan initiatiefnemer van de Februaristaking. Na hun arrestatie werd Kraan gefusilleerd, Nak kwam vrij maar raakte door zware mishandelingen arbeidsongeschikt. Na de oorlog begon hij een carriθre als goochelaar onder de naam Pietro Nakaro. In de jaren vijftig brak hij met de Communistische Partij, die de rol van Nak en Kraan minder groot achtte dan werd voorgesteld. In 1966 kreeg Nak van de Joodse gemeenschap als dank de Yad Vashem- onderscheiding. Zijn strijd tegen onrecht ging door en leidde tot de oprichting van het Palestina Comitι, waarvoor niet iedereen begrip had.
For garbage collector and communist Piet Nak, it didn't matter what your origin or religion was. "If someone is in the water, you can't first wait to see how bad the situation is. You have to jump in to save him." Together with road builder Willem Kraan, he was the initiator of the February strike. After their arrest, Kraan was shot, Nak was released but became incapacitated due to severe abuse. After the war he started a career as a magician under the name Pietro Nakaro. In the 1950s he broke with the Communist Party, which considered the roles of Nak and Kraan to be less important than had been suggested. In 1966, Nak received the Yad Vashem award from the Jewish community as a thank you. His struggle against injustice continued and led to the establishment of the Palestine Committee, which not everyone understood.
Erected by Geef
this page online
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Labor Unions • War, World II. 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 December 28, 1906.
Location. 52° 21.093′ N, 4° 47.3′ E. Memorial is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Osdorp. It is at the intersection of Piet Nakstraat and H. Diesveldsingel, on the right when traveling south on Piet Nakstraat. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1060 RL, 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: Peter Diesveld (a few steps from this marker); Guus Reitsma (within shouting distance of this marker); Nel Hissink
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 16, 2024
2. Piet Nak Marker - wide view
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . . Piet Nak (Yad Veshem).
Excerpt: Willem Kraan, who worked in the Amsterdam municipal street building department, and his friend Piet Nak, who worked in the sanitation department, were active members of the Communist Party. On Sunday February 23, 1941, they decided to initiate a strike in protest against the inhuman manner in which the Germans were treating the Jews. They approached as many working people as they could and asked them to strike on behalf of the Jews. The strike did not come off immediately, however, on Monday evening, Piet made an inspiring speech at the Noordermarkt and on Tuesday all the services in Amsterdam and some in the neighboring towns went on strike. It was the first time that non-Jews openly showed their concern for the plight of the Jews .(Submitted on April 1, 2024.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 257 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 1, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
