N° d'objetM2016/030:049
DescriptionWoollen scarf which was spun and knitted by one of the Jewish women who spent time in hiding in the Zinsmeester family home in Delft, The Netherlands. Johannes Zinsmeester (born 1943) wore it during cold winters in Australia, feeling a strong affinity with its creator even though he could not recall her name.
Part of a collection donated by Petronella (Ellie) Zinsmeester including photographs, correspondence, poems and published works belonging to her parents, Willem Lodewijk and Elisabeth Petronella Zinsmeester (nee Oosterhoff). Willem and Elisabeth are recognised as Righteous Among the Nations.
Willem was born 2 September 1914 in Delft, The Netherlands. A butcher who had also studied accounting, Willem worked in the shop owned by his father, Johannes Zinsmeester. When Johanne retired on account of his eyesight, Willem took over the running of his business and his household, living with his father and his mother Anna (nee van Drongelen) above the shop on Oosteinde 41-52, Delft. On 2 July 1941, Willem married Elisabeth Petronella (born 9 July 1917), a pre-school teacher and dressmaker. There were three children of the marriage: Johannes, born 21 April 1943, Ellie, born 14 June 1945 and Johanna Frederica, born 1 July 1949.
Following the German occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940, the Zinsmeester house became a hiding place for several Jewish families, including the Bliz, Boas, van Praagh and Groen families. Those who could afford it paid f15 per week to the family, but all were supported as much as possible.
Tobias Boas wrote of Willem Zinsmeester “He saved the lives of my brother and sister-in-law by taking them into his house, he took care of distribution cards and did everything that he could while they had no money.” Tobias’ brother Samuel Boas and his wife Betty (nee Bamberger) survived the war in hiding.
The Zinsmeester family moved to Australia in 1953.
Part of a collection donated by Petronella (Ellie) Zinsmeester including photographs, correspondence, poems and published works belonging to her parents, Willem Lodewijk and Elisabeth Petronella Zinsmeester (nee Oosterhoff). Willem and Elisabeth are recognised as Righteous Among the Nations.
Willem was born 2 September 1914 in Delft, The Netherlands. A butcher who had also studied accounting, Willem worked in the shop owned by his father, Johannes Zinsmeester. When Johanne retired on account of his eyesight, Willem took over the running of his business and his household, living with his father and his mother Anna (nee van Drongelen) above the shop on Oosteinde 41-52, Delft. On 2 July 1941, Willem married Elisabeth Petronella (born 9 July 1917), a pre-school teacher and dressmaker. There were three children of the marriage: Johannes, born 21 April 1943, Ellie, born 14 June 1945 and Johanna Frederica, born 1 July 1949.
Following the German occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940, the Zinsmeester house became a hiding place for several Jewish families, including the Bliz, Boas, van Praagh and Groen families. Those who could afford it paid f15 per week to the family, but all were supported as much as possible.
Tobias Boas wrote of Willem Zinsmeester “He saved the lives of my brother and sister-in-law by taking them into his house, he took care of distribution cards and did everything that he could while they had no money.” Tobias’ brother Samuel Boas and his wife Betty (nee Bamberger) survived the war in hiding.
The Zinsmeester family moved to Australia in 1953.
Date 1940 - 1945
Nom d'objetscarfs
Dimensions
- width: 170.00 mm
length: 1080.00 mm
height: 6.00 mm
Ligne de créditSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Petronella Zinsmeester