Koopman Speelman (sometimes named Karel), was born on 3 April 1868 in Amsterdam as a son of Jacob Speelman and Elisabeth de Leeuw. He was a diamond polisher by profession. He married on 29 August 1889 in Amsterdam Judith Kan, who was born in Leeuwarden on 10 June 1865 as a daughter of Izak Kan and Betje Bierschenk. The couple had four children, viz. Jacob Abraham in 1890, Isaac in 1891, Elizabeth in 1893 and Saartje in 1899.
After the wedding was concluded, Koopman and Judith lived in Amsterdam at Rechtboomsloot 6 and at Korte Molensteeg 16. In September 1894 both left for Broolyn (USA) from where they returned in Amsterdam in July 1895. They then moved into a houses at Zeedijk 54 and 97, were after relocations followed to Bloedstraat, Blasiusstraat and in Marchc 1911 to Govert Flinckstraat. There, Judith Kan passed away on 3 November 1912 and she was interred in the Jewish Cemetery at Zeeburg.
After the passing of his wife Judith, Koopman Speelman moved to Graaf Florisstraat 81, but left a few months later to New York again. In 1916 he returned to Amsterdam, to get married again on 12 July 1916 in Zaandam to the 40-years old Rebecca Lopes Quiros, who was born on 14 September 1875 as a daughter of David Quiros and Sara de la Fuente. They they moved into a house at Jan Steenstraat 81 in Amsterdam.
After again a relocation to Nieuwe Kerkstraat 141 in 1918, on 26 April 1922 the depart to Antwerp followed. Koopman Speelman and Rebecca Lopes Quiros left for Antwerp and lived there at Tuinbouwstraat 12. In August 1927 they left for Schoenstraat 15 in Borgerhout and in June 1931 to Junonstraat 5 in Berchem. There they stayed until 15 July 1939, after which they returned to Amsterdam and lived there at Iepenweg 7 1st floor.
Records on their registration cards of the Jewish Council show, that they were arrested and carried off to Westerbork on 12 November 1942 and put on transport to Auschwitz on 16 November. Upon arrival there on 19 November1942 they were immediately murdered in the gas chambers of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Sources include the City Archive of Amsterdam, family registration cards of Koopman Speelman, archive cards of Koopman Speelman, Judith Kan and Rebecca Lopes Quiros; website Stenenarchief/grave Judith Speelman-Kan; the Felix archive: Dossiers of Foreigners of the city of Antwerp nr. 167369, of Borgerhout nr. 995#2462 and of Berchem nr. 18497; the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration cards of Koopman Speelman and Rebecca Speelman-Lopes Quiros and the Wikipedia website Jodentransporten vanuit Nederland.nl.