Harm Bootsma

Geslacht: Man
Vader: Wolter Bootsma
Moeder: Franciska Slump
Geboren: 6 Dec 1922 Lemsterland
Overleden: 19 MEI 2001 Echtenerbrug
Aantekeningen: Bootsma Harm (1922 - ? )
Personal Information
Last Name: Bootsma
First Name: Harm
Date of Birth: 06/12/1922
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Male
Profession: BAKER
Place during the war: Echtenerbrug, Friesland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Echtenerbrug, Friesland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Other
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/3871)
Commemoration
Date of Recognition: 25/05/1988
Righteous Commemorated with Tree/Wall of Honor: Wall of Honor
Ceremony organized by Israeli diplomatic delegation in: The Hague, Netherlands
Rescued Persons
van Dam, Jacques
Rescue Story
Bootsma, Wolter & Franciska (Slump) & Harm Jacques van Dam had been hiding at a number of temporary addresses when he was taken to the Bootsmas in Echtenerbrug, Friesland, in October 1943, by Teun Lammertse*, who was connected to the underground. The young boy was immediately made to feel at home by Wolter and Franciska and their youngest son, Harm, who was 21 years old at the time. Wolter was a baker and the family, which was deeply religious, lived on a modest income. In their view, helping people in danger was the most natural thing in the world. Harm, who treated Jacques like a little brother, prepared two hiding places for him, one under the floor of the house and one between the shelves of a large cabinet. He also built a barn behind the house for Jacques to hide in. Harm was a local underground activist who took large numbers of Jews to their hiding places in a baker’s cart, hiding them behind the loaves of bread. He took Jacques to different hiding places in the cart whenever a search was imminent. Once, when there were rumors of a raid, Harm succeeded in hiding Jacques but was himself caught and taken to the police station. He managed to escape but the others captured with him were shot on the spot. Towards the end of the war, house searches intensified, especially nighttime searches, and the Bootsmas’ house became too dangerous. Harm took Jacques to his brother-in-law’s small boat, where he slept, terrified. Harm often joined him at night and took him back to the house during the day. The Bootsmas never asked for any money; they simply did what they felt was their duty. Jacques stayed with them until the liberation and kept in touch with them afterwards. On May 25, 1988, Yad Vashem recognized Wolter Bootsma, his wife Franciska Bootsma, and their son, Harm Bootsma, as Righteous Among the Nations.