Simon and Roosje Van Kollem

By: Menasheh Fogel

Simon van Kollem was born on 12-Aug-1881 in Amsterdam as the youngest of six children to Aron van Kollem and Rebecca Swalp. Simon van Kollem married Roosje van Bergen (b. 13-Dec-1881 in Weesp) on 11-May-1911 in Weesp, where Simon was also living at the time. At some point before 1914, the couple moved to Amsterdam, where they had three children Rebecca van Kollem (b. 17-Feb-1912 in Amsterdam), Sara van Kollem (b. 12-Oct-1914 in Amsterdam) and Aron van Kollem (b. 28-Feb-1916 in Amsterdam). From his military registration, we know that Simon was 169cm, had an oval face, brown hair and brown eyes. We also know that he was a dressmaker in 1900 and later became a bookdealer. According to a list with shops of Jewish owners, compiled by the Amsterdam police in 1940, Simon van Kollem had a bookshop at the Oudemanhuispoort 15 in Amsterdam. At the time of the war, Simon and Roosje were living together with their son Aron van Kollem at Vrolikstraat 162 I in Amsterdam.

As they lived nearby and were deported earlier, it is quite probable that Simon van Kollem and Roosje van Bergen knew the fate of their daughter Sara, son-in-law Artur and granddaughters Emma and Rosa Bella. Simon and Roosje were themselves deported from their home in Amsterdam on or about 26-Nov-1942 to Westerbork. They were held for only a short time until they were transported from Westerbork to Auschwitz on 04-Dec-1942. In contrast to the transport carrying Artur, Sara, Emma and Rosa Bella, this transport was an old passenger train third class operated by the Dutch Railways. The train contained 12 cars and 811 deportees. Like Simon and Roosje, more than half of the deportees were over 55 years old. The transport arrived in Auschwitz on 06-Dec-1942. Only 16 men were admitted to the camp. Simon van Kollem and Roosje van Bergen were among the remaining 795 people who were executed upon arrival. They were declared dead on 07-Dec-1942.

Rebecca van Kollem is the only survivor of the war from the family of Simon van Kollem and Roosje van Bergen. Tragically both Simon and Roosje, as well as all of their other children and grandchildren, were killed in the war.

Sources

Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Geregistreeerde (Census) Simon van Kollem

Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Simon van Kollem

Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Militieregisters (Military Registration) Simon van Kollem

Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Rebecca van Kollem

Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Sara van Kollem

Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Aron van Kollem

ITS-Arolsen 30321882: Judenrat Card Simon van Kollem

ITS-Arolsen 130321768: Judenrat Card Aron van Kollem

ITS-Arolsen 130321864: Judenrat Card Roosje van Bergen

Noord-Hollands Archief: Marriage Certificate of Simon van Kollem and Roosje van Bergen

RHC Vecht en Venen: Weesp Geregistreerde (Census) Simon van Kollem