Hendrik Dijk

Geslacht:	Man
Vader:	Roelof Dijk
Moeder:	Antje Krot
Geboren:	22 MEI 1886	Wolvega, Weststellingwerf
Overleden:	5 Jan 1958	Amsterdam
Beroep:		kadraaier in brood en kruidenierswaren
Aantekeningen:	Last Name: Dijk First Name: Hendrik Alias: HENK Date of Birth: 22/05/1886 Date of death: 05/01/1958 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Religion: SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH Gender: Male Profession: SALESMAN Place during the war: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding Arranging shelter File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/11081) Hendrik (Henk) and Evertje Dijk lived in Amsterdam with their seven children, the oldest born in 1919 and the youngest in 1929. Henk was a salesman, working from his boat, as did his oldest son, Geurt. The family belonged to the Seventh Day Adventists, who celebrated the Shabbat. As they lived in the middle of one of Amsterdam's Jewish neighborhoods, they soon noticed the consequences of anti-Jewish measures being imposed by the Nazi occupier. Not being able to suffer such injustice, they decided to help in any way they could. They started by using a empty apartment next door to store of Jewish belongings, and later prepared an escape route between their own apartment and the empty one for Jews who were trying to avoid deportation. In addition, Henk used his many contacts with people in the Amsterdam port, encouraging them to take Jews to pre-arranged hiding addresses. He thus solicited the services of a friend, a bargeman, to take the Jewish Louis Agsteribbe and his wife Mali (née Appel) to Evertje's sister Oostlander* (van de Grift). In the spring of 1943, the Dijks took a young woman into their home -- Fransje van de Rhoer, then 19 years old. However, very soon after her arrival, the Dijks were warned of an upcoming razzia, during which the entire area would be sealed off. Indeed, when that happened, Evertje walked out into the street, boldly asking when the siege would be ended because 'she had very urgent business' outside the closed-off section. Evertje had thus diverted the attention of the soldier so that son Geurt could take Fransje out with their barge that could pass under the bridge and bring her to safety. The house was subsequently searched to no avail. A few weeks later, when the Dijks felt that the coast was clear, Fransje returned to their home. Some time later, Fransje's sister, Vokje, born in 1917 and in hiding close-by, was allowed to visit. However, during her short stay, German and Dutch police came to search the home of upstairs neighbors and both young women were moved into the escape route to the neighboring home, where they stayed until the immediate danger had passed. The Dijks also took in Naftalie Blaugrund, a market vendor of cloths, from whom Evertje used to buy material before the war. When his wife also needed a place, the Dijks managed to find a hiding address for both of them with their friends, the Rodermonds. After Mrs. Blaugrund passed away at her hiding address, Naftali returned to the Dijks, and from then on answered to the title, 'uncle Thijs'. At the beginning of 1944, the Dijks took in six-year-old Eddy de Jonge, (b. 25.1.1938) who was to be spoiled by his instant bigger brothers and sisters. As he had no papers, he could not go to school, and so the older Dijk children and Fransje schooled him at home. In addition, a friend of Henk who refused to answer the call-up for the Arbeitseinsatz, was in hiding with the Dijk family. They tried to minimize visitors, and created a coded bell system, so that it would be clear who was entering the house. At each meal, the Dijks read from the Bible, but they made no effort to influence their Jewish wards. There were thus 12 people now in the Dijk household who needed food and clothing, a difficult task in central Amsterdam towards the end of the war. Even when the winter of 1944-1945, the Hungerwinter, was especially cruel, without supply of food or electricity or gas, the Dijks kept everyone at home and somehow managed to survive. After the war, it turned out that little Eddy's parents, Arnold de Jonge and Erna de Jonge-Gudema, had not survived. Even though the Dijks would have liked to keep him, they felt the boy needed a Jewish upbringing. As a sister of his father had survived, he went to her family. On June 17, 2007, Yad Vashem recognized Hendrik Dijk and Evertje Dijk-van de Grift as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner:	Evertje van de Grift	geb. 27 Dec 1893 overl. 24 Juni 1973
Huwelijk:	8 MEI 1918	Amsterdam