Jan van Dijken

Geslacht: Man
Vader: Derk van Dijken
Moeder: Luikje Zwaneveld
Geboren: 15 Jan 1877 Engelbert gem. Slochteren
Overleden: 5 Dec 1944 Bussum
Beroep: bierhandelaar, landbouwer
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Dijken van
First Name: Jan
Date of Birth: 15/01/1977
Date of death: 15/12/1944
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Male
Place during the war: Bussum, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Bussum, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/3705)
The van Dijken family lived in Bussum, North Holland, with their married son, Derk, his German-born wife, Emily, and their grandson, Jan. Although their economic situation was far from comfortable, they hid a Jewish couple from Rotterdam, the Franks, and the Bonte family from Amsterdam. Lea and Levie Bonte, who had lived next door to Catharina van Dijken's brother, Jan Schats, arrived with their grown-up son, David, on July 11, 1942, and stayed until the end of the war in May 1945. During the almost three years the families lived in the house, they were kept completely hidden. No one knew of their presence, not even the next door neighbors. The Franks and the Bontes helped finance their own upkeep, but their hosts never exploited the situation. The fugitives always felt they were being treated like human beings. During the final months of the war, Bussum was surrounded by troops who carried out house-to-house searches. The van Dijkens, who had prepared a special hiding place in their attic, did not escape the search. Emily led the German soldiers around the house as the Jews sat motionless in the hiding place. Jan and Catharina were friends of Jacob and Anna Emma Kets de Vries* of Amsterdam, where Koosje Bonte, the daughter of Lea and Levie, was hiding, and kept in close touch. Jacob and Anna, who were active in the Resistance, took great care that the family in Bussum did not want for food and ration coupons. The Bonte family remained in close touch with the van Dijkens even after the war.
On August 17, 1987, Yad Vashem recognized Jan van Dijken, his wife, Catharina van Dijken-Schats, their son Derk van Dijken and his wife, Emily van Dijken-Niggeman, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Catharina Maria Schats geb. 18 MEI 1881 overl. 7 Nov 1958
Huwelijk: 18 OKT 1903 Groningen
Kinderen:
  Jan Lubertus Lucinus van Dijken Male geb. 16 OKT 1911
  Derk van Dijken Male geb. 21 OKT 1906 overl. 1 Apr 1972