Table of Contents
Overview
Amsterdam was home to a large Jewish community before World War II.
When Nazi Germany occupied the Netherlands in May 1940, that community faced escalating discrimination, forced isolation and mass deportation.
By the end of the war, most of Amsterdam’s Jews had been murdered.
This article explains how persecution unfolded, how local structures played a part, and why Amsterdam suffered one of the highest loss rates in Western Europe.
What was Jewish life in Amsterdam like before the war
For centuries, Amsterdam had been a central centre for both Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews.
By 1940, around seventy-five thousand to eighty thousand Jews lived in the city.
This represented more than half of the Jewish population in the Netherlands.
Jewish residents worked in trades such as diamond cutting, commerce and craftsmanship and were deeply integrated into daily urban life.
How did Nazi occupation change daily life for Jews
Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940. Soon after, authorities imposed restrictions that removed Jewish citizens from public positions, limited educational access and barred them from many professions.
Shops and services displayed notices stating that Jews were not permitted to enter.
In early 1941, registration rules required anyone with full or mostly Jewish ancestry to register with officials.
This created a complete list of names and addresses that occupiers later used to carry out arrests.
How did segregation and forced identification begin
Following the registration process, hostility became visible across the city. Groups targeting Jews carried out street violence in February 1941.
The old Jewish quarter in Amsterdam was sealed off and identified as a Jewish zone.
A violent confrontation in the area led to the first large-scale arrests.
More than four hundred young Jewish men were detained and deported to forced labour sites. None returned.
What was the February Strike
On 25 February 1941, workers in Amsterdam launched a citywide strike to protest the treatment of Jews.
Factories, tram workers, dock workers and others joined. The protest spread to nearby cities.
German forces quickly suppressed the strike. Nine people were killed, and many more were injured.
Despite the losses, the February Strike remains the only known mass public protest by non-Jewish citizens in occupied Europe that directly opposed the persecution of Jews.
How did deportations begin, and what happened to those taken
From the summer of 1942 onward, mass deportations became systematic.
An estimated one hundred seven thousand Jews from the Netherlands were deported, most from Amsterdam.
They were transported to places such as Auschwitz and Sobibor. Only a small number survived.
Many people tried to hide. Around twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand Jews went into hiding across the Netherlands.
About two-thirds survived with the help of underground networks, local families and resistance groups.
What role did Amsterdam officials and local institutions play
Civil registry and municipal staff
The occupiers used Amsterdam’s detailed civil registry to identify Jews precisely.
Public sector workers were required to declare that they were not of Jewish ancestry.
Jewish staff were dismissed. This administrative framework helped enforcement and deportation operations proceed quickly.
Police participation
Police forces in Amsterdam were placed under German authority. Officers were ordered to provide address lists, carry out arrests and participate in raids.
Resistance within the police was limited. Records show that many departments cooperated with orders, which greatly aided deportation logistics.
Local transport and infrastructure
Railway and tram workers transported detainees between collection points and transit camps.
The efficiency of Dutch infrastructure and scheduling systems contributed significantly to the speed of deportations.
What forms of resistance and rescue existed
While collaboration occurred on many levels, some individuals and groups resisted.
The February Strike symbolised broad civilian disapproval. Underground networks produced forged documents, found hiding places and arranged food deliveries.
Jewish and non-Jewish members of resistance groups worked together, but these networks remained smaller than in some other European countries because of the country’s dense population and strong local record-keeping.
Why did the Netherlands have one of the highest Jewish death rates in Western Europe
- Several factors contributed to the severity of loss:
- The civil registry provided exact identification records.
- The Jewish population was concentrated in Amsterdam, which reduced the difficulty of locating individuals.
- Transport infrastructure functioned smoothly under occupation.
- Hiding places were limited because of population density and closely monitored urban spaces.
- Many civil servants, police units and municipal structures complied with occupation orders.
As a result, about three-quarters of the Jewish population in the Netherlands was murdered, a proportion higher than in most other Western European countries.
What happened after liberation
After the war ended in 1945, the Jewish community in Amsterdam was devastated.
Entire neighbourhoods were empty. Homes and businesses were taken over or destroyed.
Survivors returned to a changed city without the networks that once supported their families and traditions. Many chose to emigrate.
Over time, the Netherlands confronted difficult questions about responsibility.
Historians have shown that municipal offices, police departments, transport workers and many administrative systems played a part in enabling persecution.
Why does this history still matter
The events in Amsterdam show how a modern city, with strong institutions and a well-organised civil system, can be used to carry out persecution.
The story demonstrates that widespread harm often relies on ordinary people following orders, not only on high-level decision makers.
Understanding this history helps prevent denial, distortion or complacency.
It strengthens public awareness about the risks created by discrimination, surveillance practices and unchecked authority.
FAQ
Q. How large was Amsterdam’s Jewish community before the war?
Around seventy-five thousand to eighty thousand Jews lived in Amsterdam in 1940. This was more than half of all Jews in the Netherlands.
Q. Why were Amsterdam’s Jews identified so quickly?
Amsterdam kept detailed civil population records. Occupiers used these lists to find names, addresses and family ties, which made arrests efficient.
Q. Did many Jews in Amsterdam hide?
Between twenty-five thousand and thirty thousand Jews across the Netherlands attempted to hide. About two-thirds survived. Many received help from resistance networks and sympathetic households.
Q. Why was the February Strike significant?
It was the only large-scale public protest in occupied Europe where non-Jewish citizens united specifically to oppose the persecution of Jews. It remains a central moment in Dutch history.
Q. How many Jews from the Netherlands were murdered?
About one hundred two thousand to one hundred seven thousand Dutch Jews were murdered. This included the overwhelming majority of Jews from Amsterdam.
Q. What happened to the Jewish neighbourhoods after the war?
Many areas were left empty, damaged or repurposed. Businesses collapsed, communities scattered, and historic districts required rebuilding over decades.
Q. What lessons does Amsterdam’s history offer today?
The history shows how discrimination combined with efficient bureaucracy can lead to catastrophic outcomes. It underscores the need for vigilance whenever basic rights are restricted or groups are targeted.
How the Anne Frank story expands the history covered here
For readers who want deeper insight into one of the most documented stories from wartime Amsterdam, you can explore the life of Anne Frank.
Her family lived in the city, went into hiding, and was later discovered and deported.
Her diary has become one of the most widely read accounts of Jewish life under occupation.