Sikke Bruinsma

Geslacht:	Man
Vader:	Ate Arjens Bruinsma
Moeder:	Grietje Willems Oostra
Geboren:	4 Juni 1879	Buitenpost, Achtkarspelen
Overleden:	24 Jan 1973	onbekend
Religie:		Ned. Hervormd
Beroep:		vrachtrijder
Aantekeningen:	Last Name: Bruinsma First Name: Sikke Date of Birth: 04/06/1878 Date of death: 30/01/1973 Rescuer's fate: survived camp inmate Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Male Place during the war: Drachten, Friesland, The Netherlands, Vught, Camp, The Netherlands, Buchenwald, Camp, Germany Rescue Place: Drachten, Friesland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding Arranging shelter Other File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/3023) From July 14, 1942, until the liberation almost three years later, Govert de Haas and his wife, Ilse (née Vyth), were hidden at several addresses in Groningen and Friesland, the northern provinces of Holland. On April 17, 1943, a member of the Resistance escorted Ilse from Groningen to the home of Ate and Jansje Bruinsma in Drachten, Friesland. A fortnight later, Govert was taken on the back of a motorcycle also to the Bruinsmas' home, where Ate and Jansje lived with their three children and Ate's father, Sikke. The couple stayed at this address until August 1943. Ate, a blacksmith who made agricultural equipment, was a dedicated Resistance activist who tried to save as many Jews as possible. He later traveled to Amsterdam to take Ilse's parents and sister to safety. However, upon arriving in the capital, he discovered that they had already been deported. He returned home with another Jewish woman, Ada Muzikant, who also hid in his home until August 1943, when the hidden Jews had to relocate because the situation there became especially precarious. The Bruinsmas did not let them leave, though, until an alternative hideout had been found. While they were with the Bruinsmas, Ate hid the de Haas couple and Mrs. Muzikant in the attic and also constructed a special shelter under the house for use in times of emergencies. Later on in the war, when the danger there subsided, the Bruinsmas took in other Jewish fugitives. During the war, Ate was also involved with helping people escape from the Westerbork camp. In December 1943, on his way to Amsterdam to meet a contact, he was betrayed and arrested. Subsequently, his home in Drachten was searched and illegal ration coupons were discovered. Sikke, Ate's father, was charged for this and arrested. He was deported to Vught and from there moved to other concentration camps in Germany. He survived Buchenwald and was liberated, suffering from severe tuberculosis. In the meantime, Ate was taken to Dachau, where he died. On November 13, 1984, Yad Vashem recognized Ate Bruinsma, his wife, Jansje Bruinsma-Stoker, and his father, Sikke A. Bruinsma, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner:	Grietje Hoekstra	geb. 30 MRT 1878 overl. 28 MRT 1939
Huwelijk:	13 OKT 1900	Achtkarspelen
Kinderen:
	Trijntje Bruinsma	geb. 8 MEI 1902 overl. 26 Juli 1952
	Ate Bruinsma	geb. 8 Aug 1900 overl. 22 MRT 1945