Karel Kiek born on 27 August 1893 in Amsterdam, was a son of the diamond polisher Israel Kiek (Amsterdam 1868-Antwerp 1948) and Catherine Israel Ricardo (London 1870-Deurne (B) 1929). The Kiek family eventually contained ten children. His nine siblings were Emanuel in 1890, Louis in 1891, Abraham in 1892, Daniel in 1894, Margaretha in 1896 and Samuel in 1897, who were all born in Amsterdam; then Jacques followed in 1899 in Paris and in Antwerp twice a Maurice was born in Antwerp, in 1902 and in 1904.
The Kiek family lived in Amsterdam but went to Paris on 26 August 1898. From 1906 to October 1914, the family lived at Fontijnstraat 55 in Borgerhout, but shuttled back and forth between Antwerp and Amsterdam still several times. Karel, who was still unmarried, then moved into a house at Oranjestraat 93 in Borgerhout on 30 June 1917.
On 23 December 1919 Karel Kiek got married in Antwerp to Esther Vos, who was born on 12 October 1899 in Amsterdam as a daughter of Hijman Vos and Lea van West. After their weddingday, they moved into a house in the Zendelingenstraat 6 in Borgerhout, where they remained until 21 May 1928 and where meantime on 29 June 1924, their daughter Catharina was born. Thereafter, Karel and his wife and daughter were registered in 1928 at the address Lange Pothoekstraat 100 in Antwerp. He then was employed as a diamond worker at H. Lipschutz at an average salary of Bfr. 425 per week.
In Borgerhout in 1937, Karel Kiek was registered as a diamon polisher, not as employed but as “patron” (employer). Karel Kiek, his wife Esther Vos and daughter Catherina lived since June 1937 at Gitschotellei 188 in Borgerhout, where they have resided till their deportation. Before, they have lived at Oud Strijdersstraat 68 and at Herenthalschebaan 115 in Deurne.
On 27 August 1942 they were deported with convoy VI (6) from Mechelen to Auschwitz. The Memorial of the Deportation of the Belgian Jews describes the arrival of the 6th convoy in Auschwitz and it appears that of all deportees, no one was allowed in the camp, which means that on arrival on 29 August 1942, all deportees, including Karel Kiek, Esther Kiek-Vos and Catharina Kiek immediately have been gassed in the gas chambers of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Sources include the Felix Archive of Antwerp, dossiers of foreigners no.200133 for Karel Kiek, no.101326 for Israel Kiek and no.135618 for Hijman Vos; Dossier 995#3326 of Borgerhout; the City Archive of Amsterdam, closed family registration cards of Israel Kiek; the wedding certificate 4907 of 23 December 1919 from Antwerp for Karel Kiel and Esther Vos and the Memorial of the Deportation of the Belgian Jews, page 23.