Osdorp in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Joop Woortman
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 16, 2024
1. Joop Woortman Marker
Onder de schuilnaam Theo de Bruin was taxichauffeur/ kelner Joop Woortman actief in het verzet. Hij bracht onderduikers onder, verspreidde illegale bladen en regelde bonkaarten. Samen met zijn vrouw Semmy Glasoog en veleandere verzetsmensen van de NV-groep hielp hij honderden Joodse kinderen ontsnappen uit de crιche tegenover de Hollandsche Schouwburg. Hiervandaan werden opgepakte Joodse Amsterdammers naar Westerbork gedeporteerd. Woortman deed dat vanuit de gedachte dat kinderen de toekomst van een volk zijn. Een van die kinderen was de latere Amsterdamse burgemeester Ed van Thijn, die in 1992 de naam van dit plein onthulde. Woortman werd verraden en kwam via Kamp Amersfoort in concentratiekamp Bergen-Belsen terecht, waar hij vlak voor de bevrijding stierf. Zijn vrouw Semmy overleefde de oorlog. In 1981 werd het echtpaar door Yad Vashem erkend als een van de Rechtvaardigen onder de Volkeren.
Taxi driver/waiter Joop Woortman was active in the resistance under the pseudonym Theo de Bruin. He housed people who had gone underground, distributed illegal publications and arranged ration cards. Together with his wife Semmy Glasoog and many other resistance members from the NV group, he helped hundreds of Jewish children escape from the daycare center opposite the Hollandsche Schouwburg theatre. From there, arrested Jewish Amsterdammers were deported to Westerbork. Woortman did this based on the idea that children are the future of a nation. One of those children was later the Amsterdam mayor Ed van Thijn, who unveiled the name of this square in 1992. Woortman was betrayed and ended up via Camp Amersfoort in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where he died just before its liberation. His wife Semmy survived the war. In 1981, the couple was recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous Among the Nations.
Erected 2023
this page online
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: 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 March 14, 1945.
Location. 52° 21.131′ N, 4° 47.007′ E. Memorial is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Osdorp. It is at the intersection of Trijn Hullemanlaan and Joop Woortmanplein, on the left when traveling north on Trijn Hullemanlaan. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: Joop Woortmanplein 5, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1069 PH, 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: Irawan Soejono (within shouting distance of this marker); Trijn Hulleman (within shouting
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 16, 2024
2. Joop Woortman Marker - wide view
Also see . . .
1. Resistance Groups (Verzets Museum). The Resistance Museums page on the four resistance groups that focused on rescuing Amsterdams Jewish children.
On the NV: Thirty-year old Jaap Musch in Amsterdam wanted to help Jewish children on the basis of his Reformed religious beliefs. He convinced his brother Gerard and his friend Dick Groenewegen van Wijk to help. The three men called themselves the NV, Naamloze Vennootschap, or Anonymous Association. The NV men came into contact with the resistance workers Joop and Semmy Woortman. Joop Woortman was an Amsterdam taxi driver with a large circle of friends and acquaintances. In January 1943, Woortman came into contact with Walter Sόskind. That is how the NV group found the day care centre.(Submitted on April 9, 2024.)
Children saved from the day care centre: around 160
2. Semmy and Joop Woortman-Forgotten Heroes (History of Sorts - Dirk de Klein). A 2022 blog post focusing on the Semmy and Joop Woortman (Submitted on April 9, 2024.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 9, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 272 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 9, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
