Hendrika Koes

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Mannes Koes
Moeder: Geesje Hakkers
Geboren: 1 Aug 1903 Vroomshoop, Den Ham
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Grevink
First Name: Hendrika
Maiden Name: Koes
Date of Birth: 01/08/1903
Date of death: 11/06/1982
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Profession: MAID
Place during the war: Den Ham, Overijssel, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Den Ham, Overijssel, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/1023)
In 1943, Hendrika Grevink, a 40-year-old widow, was living with her ten-year-old daughter in Den Ham, Overijssel. Hendrika earned a modest living, working as a maid for various families and also for the local school. In April of that year, she welcomed a Jewish couple from The Hague, Israel Cohen and his wife, Rosa Borstrok, into her home. Their presence was kept secret because they both looked especially Jewish and all the residents in the village of Den Ham knew each other. On one occasion, SS officers raided Hendrika’s home. Fortunately, she succeeded in keeping the Jewish couple well hidden. Despite the obvious dangers involved in hiding the Cohens, when in April 1944 Rosa’s sister, Carla Borstrok, was forced to leave her former hideout, Hendrika willingly accepted her too into her home. In addition to this, in early 1945, Hendrika took in yet another woman, Rozet Frankenhuis, who had also been compelled to relocate from her former hiding place. Perhaps the greatest difficulty for Hendrika was inconspicuously acquiring enough food. To avoid suspicion, Hendrika traveled once a week, by bike, to the nearby town of Ommen to buy enough groceries for all the people living under her roof. All the fugitives remained in Hendrika’s home until the liberation in April 1945. They survived the war because of the shelter Hendrika provided.
On February 19, 1976, Yad Vashem recognized Hendrika Grevink-Koes as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Hendrik Grevink geb. 6 Dec 1902 overl. 4 Juli 1934
Huwelijk: 22 Nov 1929 Den Ham