Jakob van Dam was a son of Victor van Dam and Jette van Hoorn. He was born in Stedum (Groningen) but lived at the village of Westerbork, where he was "headmaster". At age 43 he married in Haren on 31 October 1928 the 29-year old Anna Nathans, a daughter of Simon Nathans and Betje de Jong. As far as has been researched, this couple had no children.

Jakob's father-in-law, Simon Nathans, was already a widower since 6 December 1928 and Jakob and his wife Anna lived in with him at Bernhardlaan 12 at Zuidlaren. When his father-in-law has passed away on 11 July 1941, they have moved at some point to Beukenlaan 12, also in Zuidlaren.

On 27 August 1942, Jakob and his wife Anna arrived at Camp Westerbork. Alreay the next day, August the 28th, both were deported to Auschwitz where they were killed immediately upon arrival there on 31 August 1942.

Website www.wiewaswie.nl, www.allegroningers.nl, www.alledrenten.nl en het archief van de Joodse Raad, kaarten van Jakob van Dam en Anna Nathans.