Riemke Martens

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Jacobus Martens
Moeder: Wytske Hokwerda
Geboren: 28 Sept 1876 Hommerts
Overleden: 22 Sept 1959 Sneek
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Gaastra
First Name: Riemke
Maiden Name: Martens
Date of Birth: 28/09/1876
Date of death: 22/09/1959
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Place during the war: Sneek, Friesland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Sneek, Friesland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/4808)
Abraham Worms was working at a Jewish hospital in Amsterdam when, in 1943, it was announced that all the patients and staff were going to be deported to Westerbork. Abraham and two nurses, R. van Dam and L. Brommet, managed to escape, but they had nowhere to go. One of the nurses turned to a non-Jewish friend whom she knew had connections with the Resistance. All three refugees were told to go to Sneek, Friesland, where Jacobus Gaastra, an active member of the local Resistance movement, met them. Gaastra, a baker, lived with his wife and their infant son in a two-story house. The family used the house to shelter fugitives temporarily. In and around the house, the Gaastras had constructed several hiding places. First they hid the two nurses in a permanent shelter, keeping Abraham under their own roof until a safe address could be found. Actually, Abraham ended up spending his entire time in the Gaastras' home. Jacobus and Martzen never asked for any financial compensation for food and clothing. Their sole motive was neighborly love and the desire to help people in their hour of need. In May 1944, the Gaastras' second child was born. At this point, Abraham moved in with Jacobus's parents, Douwe and Riemke Gaastra. They had been the only people who knew of his presence. Abraham remained with them until the end of the war. On September 13, 1944, after "Dolle Dinsdag," Jacobus was apprehended and imprisoned. The German authorities executed him on September 19, 1944, "to set an example." A memorial plaque commemorating the courageous deeds of Jacobus Gaastra has since been mounted at Kleinzand 71, Sneek, premises that were originally Douwe Gaastra's workshop and that now house a museum of Dutch Railways. Abraham and Martzen stayed in touch even after the war.
On May 5, 1991, Yad Vashem recognized Jacobus Gaastra, his wife, Martzen Gaastra-ten Hoeve, and his parents, Douwe Gaastra and Riemke Gaastra-Martens, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Douwe Gaastra geb. 22 MEI 1880 overl. 30 Juli 1950
Huwelijk: 1 Juni 1907 Wymbritseradeel
Kinderen:
  Jacob Gaastra Female geb. 24 MEI 1909
  Wytske Gaastra Female geb. 2 MRT 1908
  Piertje Gaastra Female geb. 31 Juli 1910
  Simkje Gaastra Female geb. 8 Jan 1912
  Jacobus Gaastra Female geb. 14 Aug 1913 overl. 19 Sept 1944