Derk Bloemendaal

Geslacht: Man
Vader: Hendrikus Bloemendaal
Moeder: Johanna Colenbrander
Geboren: 4 Juni 1900 Zelhem
Beroep: landbouwer
Religie: Ned. Hervormd
Aantekeningen: Bloemendaal Derk (1900 - 1983 )
Personal Information
Last Name: Bloemendaal
First Name: Derk
Date of Birth: 04/06/1900
Date of death: 21/01/1983
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Male
Profession: FARMER
Place during the war: Ruurlo, Gelderland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Ruurlo, Gelderland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/938)
Commemoration
Date of Recognition: 26/06/1980
Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Wall of Honor
Ceremony organized by Israeli diplomatic delegation in: The Hague, Netherlands
Rescued Persons
Meijers, Hilda
Polak, Deventer van, Celine
Serphos, Nathan
Ludnowski, Gundelfinger, Meijers, Elizabeth, Sophie
Meijers, Moshe
Rescue Story
Bloemendaal, Derk & Grada Harmina Johanna (Groot Wassink)
Derk and Grada Bloemendaal, farmers in Ruurlo, Gelderland, were devout Christians who would say a special prayer for the deliverance of the persecuted Jews before each meal. Despite finding it difficult to make ends meet and feed their own eight children, they gave refuge to a total of eight Jews during the war, sharing with their guests whatever they had. Among those who stayed at the Bloemendaals’ farm was Tineke Meijers (later Tirtsa Levy), who had suddenly been forced to leave her hiding place at Jacob van der Molen’s* home in October 1942 after a raid, after finding out that her father had been caught at his hiding place with Frederikje Plaat-van der Molen, Jacob’s sister. Her mother, Hilde, fled the Plaat* home after the same raid but her husband was caught. Both mother and daughter stayed with the Bloemendaals from then until the end of the war. During the war, others too were hidden for shorter periods with the Bloemendaals. These included Celine Polak-van Deventer, Nathan Serphos, Elizabeth Ludnowski-Serphos, Sophie Meijers (later Gundelfinger), and Moshe Meijers, the son of Hilde Meijers. The Bloemendaals built a shed at the back of their house for their guests to hide in during the frequent searches by the Germans. Sometimes they would have to hide in the shed for days on end. During these times, Grada Bloemendaal would bring the fugitives food and take care of any other of their needs. All those who hid with the Bloemendaals survived the war.
On June 26, 1980, Yad Vashem recognized Derk Bloemendaal and his wife, Grada Hermina Johanna Bloemendaal-Groot Wassink, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Grada Harmina Johanna Groot Wassink geb. 20 Feb 1904 overl. 7 Feb 1997
Huwelijk: 17 Jan 1924 Zelhem