Ernest Petrus Bekaert
| Geslacht: | Man | |
| Vader: | Charles Bekaert | |
| Moeder: | Anna Marie Auguste Härtel | |
| Geboren: | 9 Juni 1899 | Amsterdam |
| Overleden: | 15 OKT 1985 | |
| Religie: | Ev. Luthers | |
| Beroep: | assistent-accountant | |
| Aantekeningen: | ekaert Ernest (1899 - 1985 ) Personal Information Last Name: Bekaert First Name: Ernest Petrus Date of Birth: 09/06/1899 Date of death: 15/10/1985 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Male Profession: EMPLOYEE Place during the war: Amersfoort, Utrecht, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Amersfoort, Utrecht, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/4820) Commemoration Date of Recognition: 11/02/1991 Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Wall of Honor Ceremony organized by Israeli diplomatic delegation in: The Hague, Netherlands Rescued Persons Klein, Dina Rescue Story Bekaert, Ernest Petrus & Gerrigje (Reimerink) Polak Fruital Works, a company based in Amersfoort, Utrecht, employed a Jew and a non-Jew whose fates became entwined as a consequence of the war. Uri Klein, a salesman from Amsterdam, had developed a close friendship with Ernest Bekaert of Amersfoort. In May 1943, Uris wife died and Gerrigje (Ger) Bekaert went to Amsterdam on a condolence visit. Once there, Ger immediately sized up Uris family situation and decided to take the youngest daughter, six-year-old Dina, back home with her, without even consulting Ernest. When Ger arrived home with Dina she was immediately welcomed into the household. Dina, who was one year older than the Bekaerts son Robert, was presented as an orphaned niece from Rotterdam. She was allowed to play outside and attend school. The neighbors in the street collaborated in the pretense, sometimes also alerting the family when house searches were imminent and Dina had to be moved. During Dinas time in hiding, there were some especially tense moments, particularly when there were air-raid sirens when Dina was not at home. Ernest and Ger treated Dina like a daughter. They managed to get her medical treatment when she suffered from frozen feet and vitamin deficiency and were concerned about preserving her Jewish identity even though they did not adhere to any religious faith. By 1946, neither Dinas father nor sister had come back and the Bekaerts decided to return Dina to the Jewish authorities in order that she could preserve her Jewish identity. Dina later married and had five children. Even after moving to Israel, Dina maintained close ties with her host family. On February 11, 1991, Yad Vashem recognized Ernest Petrus Bekaert and his wife, Gerrigje Bekaert-Reimerink, as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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Gezin 1
| Huwelijkspartner: | Gerrigje Reimerink | geb. 29 Juli 1899 overl. 31 Juli 1993 |
| Huwelijk: | 27 Sept 1923 | Amsterdam |