Aaltje van Kollem was born on 07-May-1877 in Amsterdam as the second youngest of six children to Aron van Kollem and Rebecca Swalp. On 23-Dec-1915 she married Louis de Levita (b. 09-Apr-1874 in Amsterdam) in Zaandam. Louis de Levita had six children from his previous marriage, some of whom lived with Aaltje and Louis in their home. Louis and Aaltje had two children, Rebecca de Levita (b. 14-Oct-1916 in Amsterdam) and Arnold de Levita (b. 27-Apr-1918 in Amsterdam). Louis de Levita died on 17-Feb-1925. Aaltje, Rebecca and Arnold moved into the home at Burgemeester Tellengenstraat 14 huis, Amsterdam in April, 1935. As the stepchildren were adults and many already married, they did not live in the same home. The family continued to live in this home at the time of the war.
Aaltje van Kollem was deported to Westerbork on 17-Apr-1943. She was then transported on 27-Apr-1943 from Westerbork to Sobibor. This particular train also transported her nephew Aron van Kollem, son of Simon van Kollem. As Sobibor was used solely as a death camp, Aajlte was amongst the 1,204 individuals who were killed immediately after arrival. Aaltje van Kollem died on 30-Apr-1943 in Sobibor at the age of 65.
Sources
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Geregistreeerde (Census) Simon van Kollem
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Aaltje van Kollem
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Rebecca de Levita
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Arnold de Levita
ITS-Arolsen 130332771: Judenrat Card Aaltje de Levita
ITS-Arolsen 5150869: Listen Westerbork, Family de Levita
ITS-Arolsen 5155559: Transport List Westerbork Family de Levita
USHMM: Index to Dutch Married Women Aaltje van Kollem
Yad Vashem: Transport from Westerbork to Sobibor 27-Apr-1943