Memorial Jewish Labour Camp Het Wijde Gat

In the 1930s, the Dutch government had so-called work clearance camps built to house unemployed people as part of the work provision scheme. From January 1942, over 40 of these camps were designated to make room for Jewish men made unemployed by anti-Jewish measures. The Amsterdam Jewish Council was instructed in January 1942 to "supply" the first 1,075 men for this purpose. More followed later from other parts of the country.

The camps were mainly in the North and East of the Netherlands and the work included digging on the heathland, digging up potatoes and building roads or paths. As the year progressed, conditions became worse and worse, and in October 1942 the camps were evacuated. All residents transferred to Westerbork.

On 10 July 1942, the first group of about 80 men arrived at Wijde Gat. They were from Groningen and they were employed in clearing the heathland in the area. Some letters from the camp, which have survived, mention the hard work and the ever-declining conditions.

On 2 October, the camp was evacuated and its residents taken to Westerbork. Only a few of them survived the war. The camp was demolished in 1947 and nothing remains but a concrete slab on which the aggregate once stood.

On 2 October, the camp was evacuated and its residents transported to Westerbork. Only a few of them survived the war. The camp was demolished in 1947 and nothing remains but a concrete slab on which the aggregate once stood.

On 21 September 2023, a monument was unveiled at the site of the camp. Furthermore, the gate was re-erected, information boards were erected and the boundaries of the camp were made visible with demarcation posts.

Much information about this-and about the other camps-can be found at: www.joodsewerkkampen.nl. An initiative of Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork

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Source

• Text: Jan de Jager
• Photos: Robert Groenhuis
• https://joodsewerkkampen.nl/overzicht-joodse-werkkampen/het-wijde-gat