Friday, March 10, 2017

Holandische Shouwburg

By Donald Scheer,

During the time of the Nazi occupation, the Hollandische Shouwburg was originally a theatre. Many great shows were performed there and many Jewish actors took the stage. It was originally an ornate theatre with rows and stories to accommodate patrons. Beautifully decorated, it was a symbol of pride amongst the actors and patrons. During this time the city of Amsterdam kept on expanding. Because of this expansion the theatre needed to be remodeled in order to accommodate the ever-expanding number of patrons. By the time the Nazis took over the previously ornate theatre had become a much more practical theatre with straight lines and a colder more practical color.
* The memorial of the theatre that burned down

When the Nazis occupied Amsterdam  the Shouwburg became a collection point for the Jews of Amsterdam. They had to register all of their information with the Judenrat (Jewish Council) which had been set up, so that the Jews could just walk up and register at a table, after which their children were taken from them. The Dutch Judenrat wanted things to go as smoothly as possible and avoid anyone fighting back during the process. In order to do so, Jewish children were taken from their parents and held at a children's facility across the street from the Shouwburg. It was thought that if the Jews did not know where their children were, they would be more likely to comply while they were waiting to be deported from the Shouwburg to Westerbork and onwards toward the death camps, many dying in Sobibor.
* Tulips left behind in memory of those that were lost

It would sometimes take days or weeks before someone's name would be selected. The Jews suffered from a lack of food and proper facilities while they waited. But in the face of this misery there were initiatives amongst the Judenrat to save children. This was a difficult task, registration cards for a child were removed to make the child anonymous so that they could be hidden. Sometimes when registering a child instead of two children, the person registering them would write a one instead. Many children were effectively hidden. Families had been found to take the children, and as a result, a large rescue mission was accomplished.
* Maud Dahme and Leo and Kay Ullman inside of the National Holocaust Museum in the Netherlands

Today the Hollandische Shouwburg is a monument to the Jews held there to be sent to their deaths. Due to an intended purchase of the theatre, in order to make it a circus, in protest the Dutch destroyed the theatre to prevent any laughter from ever occurring in the building again. There is a monolith in the center of the open air courtyard created in the destruction of the theatre, and inside there is a wall of the family names of those sent to their deaths from the Shouwburg facing an eternal flame. Maud Dahme, who is traveling with us, was able to point out the names of her family members on the list. Upstairs a memorial museum exists with valuable information about what occurred there, and facts about the Holocaust.

7 comments:

  1. So sad how the Nazi's took over everything. I think its amazing how smart the Jews were by not registering some of their children and hiding them. They saved so many children by doing so!

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  2. Speechless.

    Throughout your post, a movie-like reel played through my mind. Vivid scenes were flipping on while I almost stood there and watched. My heart sank further the deeper I read. Left numb, my mind could not shake the sorrow I felt.

    Thank you for sharing this piece. There is so much of the Holocaust to be examined and shared, I am not sure if all stories could be told. It is imperative to remember those who lost their lives, survived or were heroes. This monument is both humbling and unsettling, however, it brings my heart ease as it stands for so much more then death but courage, honor and faith.

    Jennifer Heritage

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  3. It is surprising to me that someone would want to put a circus in a place associated with such pain. I believe that making the grounds a memorial is a much better use for the space. It is cruel and unexpected that the Nazis hid children so close to their parents. Everything they did to these people is so terrible. The adults that worked to save children are so brave and deserve to be noted in this space, along with all those who lost their lives. Your emotions must have been so strong in a spot with such deep history.

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  4. There are so many stories from the Holocaust that we do not know about and it is sad. Reading your post, I felt as if I was walking through the memorial learning first hand with you. Thank you for including so much detail and the story behind this. So much pain walked through there and I am glad to see the flowers in memory of those who suffered. Great pictures and again, thank you for sharing this.

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  5. This is a powerful post, from what I am sure was a very powerful experience. It's really interesting, and admirable, that the potential circus was prevented. The fact that Maud Dahme was able to point out members of her family must have left you all speechless...

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  6. there are so many stories from the holocaust that were not taught to us. Reading your post have made me understand more about the holocaust. Thank you for sharing this piece. There is so much of the Holocaust to be examined and shared, it is important to remember those who lost their lives in this tragic event.

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  7. Wow, this is amazing to read. I feel like I could read days and days about this stuff and still want to know more. I feel like the knowledge is endless, and I am sure still things to this day about the holocaust are hidden. It is amazing to me what they did to these people, and the impact that it still has on all types of people around the world. I have been to the holocaust museum in DC but never one overseas, and I am sure to visit and really see the places where all of this happened in person is so eyeopening and awing. Great work and such a thorough words on what you saw and where you went!

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