Arie Bergwerff

Geslacht: Man
Vader: Frederik Bergwerff
Moeder: Anna van Aarde
Geboren: 10 Apr 1907 Utrecht
Overleden: 8 MEI 1955
Religie: Ned. Hervormd
Aantekeningen: Bergwerff Arie (1907 - 1955 )
Personal Information
Last Name: Bergwerff
First Name: Arie
Date of Birth: 10/04/1907
Date of death: 08/05/1955
Rescuer's fate: survived
imprisoned
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Male
Profession: BICYCLE REPAIRMAN
Place during the war: Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
Arranging shelter
Other
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/776)
Commemoration
Date of Recognition: 11/12/1973
Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Tree
Ceremony organized by Israeli diplomatic delegation in: The Hague, Netherlands
Ceremony held in Yad Vashem: Yes
Rescued Persons
Pam, Betsy
Cohen, First name unknown
Cohen, Surname unknown, First name unknown
Pam, First name unknown
Kinsbergen, Issaak
Rescue Story
Bergwerff, Arie & Maria Hendrika (Rodrigo) In September 1940 Arie Bergwerff, a bicycle repairman with a high level of religious and cultural awareness, began to organize a small group of people to resist the Germans. Included in the group were Wopke and Heiltje Kooistra* and occasionally, Arie cooperated with the Reverend Overduin* and Ad van Schuppen*. Arie and Wopke Kooistra were often asked to accompany Jews, who were forbidden to travel, from Amsterdam to the city of Utrecht, where the Jewish Council took care of them. Although Arie and Maria had four young children, they never shied away from helping as many Jews as possible, without receiving financial compensation. In July 1944, when Mrs. Cohen-Pareira was in the hospital with scarlet fever and her husband needed a new hiding place, he was welcomed into the Bergwerffs’ home, as a temporary arrangement. When Mr. Cohen fell ill with scarlet fever, Arie and Marie nursed him for six weeks and his wife joined him in their home. After his recovery Cohen, with blue eyes and blond hair, decided to move into a boarding house and go about his business as usual. Two weeks before the railroad strike, the Cohen family was arrested and deported. They never returned. After the war, Arie had to tell their daughter Martha what had happened. Machiel and Betsy Pam, a Jewish couple, had known Arie since 1940. In 1942, when their son Avi turned 16 Arie invited him to take part in underground activities. On July 18, 1942, the members of the Pam family were forced to go into hiding with various colleagues of Arie‘s. Machiel found refuge with the Kooistras, Betsy and Avi went to Rotterdam and their daughter Judy moved to an address that soon became unsuitable. In December 1942, when she was compelled to leave, Arie transferred her to the Heuzer* family. In September 1943, Arie traveled to Amsterdam to help Avi’s grandparents, Mr. And Mrs. Abraham Pam and Mr. and Mrs. Issaak Kinsberge. He led them to a safe place in Utrecht. The Kinsbergens joined the te Gussinklos* and the Pams were taken in by the Kooistras. In early 1944 Arie was apprehended by the Germans and imprisoned in Utrecht. With the assistance of a policeman, a member of Arie’s small Resistance group, he was soon set free. However, the Germans had maltreated him and he never fully recovered. On December 11, 1973, Yad Vashem recognized Arie Bergwerff and his wife, Maria Hendrika Bergwerff-Rodrigo, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Maria Hendrika Rodrigo geb. 27 Dec 1906 overl. 28 MEI 1997
Huwelijk: 22 Dec 1932 Utrecht