Gerhard van Straten, an insurance agent, was married. He and his wife had two children. The family lived in The Hague.
Gerhard van Straten worked for the Ordedienst (OD)/District 13/The Hague. He performed espionage and belonged to the Westerveld group. He was charged in the first OD trial.
Gerhard van Straten was caught in Loosdrecht on 11 March 1941 and was locked up at the prison in Scheveningen. He was subsequently deported to Sachsenhausen via the camp at Amersfoort. At Sachsenhausen he was executed by a shot in the neck at age 52.
Biography