Amsterdam has made a significant announcement, acknowledging its historical involvement in the Holocaust by committing to repay €100,000. This repayment symbolizes the revenue
generated from tram tickets used to transport 48,000 Jewish individuals towards Nazi death camps during World War II.
The decision follows the release of the documentary film "Verdwenen Stad" (Lost City) by Emmy-winning director Willy Lindwer, which explores the complicity of the city's tram service with the Nazis. In response to the revelations brought to light by the film, Amsterdam plans to install memorial boards at major tram stations as a mark of remembrance.
Director Willy Lindwer emphasized the importance of addressing the tram's collaboration with the Nazis, stating, "The first step is to put memorial boards at all of the places. The second is to give back €100,000, and the third is an official apology and damages. But this is a very emotional moment."
Lindwer's documentary, featuring interviews with Holocaust survivors, sheds light on the crucial role of night trams in facilitating the deportation of 48,000 Jewish Amsterdammers, while others, like Lindwer's parents, went into hiding or fled.
One poignant revelation from the film is the tram journey taken by Anne Frank and her family from the Weteringschans prison to Central Station on August 8, 1944, after their hiding place was discovered. Astonishingly, the Amsterdam transport company, GVB, pursued payment for this journey after the war, employing a debt collector for two years in an attempt to reclaim the fare of 80 guilders.
Reacting to the documentary, Mayor Femke Halsema expressed profound dismay, stating, "The collaboration with the occupier fills us with horror and shame." She reaffirmed the city's commitment to confronting its past and acknowledging the suffering endured by its Jewish citizens.
As a first step towards reparations, Amsterdam has pledged to pay €100,000 to the Centraal Joods Overleg Jewish organization. This initial gesture reflects the amount equivalent to the tram tickets' revenue. Further compensation is anticipated following an official study on the city's collaboration with the Nazis later this year.
The municipality recognizes its "historic and moral responsibility" and acknowledges the GVB tram service's "heartfelt and sincere regret." In addition to financial restitution, permanent memorials will be erected at key tram stops, including the Beethovenstraat, Victoriaplein, and Plantage Middenlaan, where a new Holocaust museum and memorial site stand. Moreover, the GVB will integrate information on these events into its travel app, ensuring that the tragic legacy is remembered by future generations. Photo by Janderk1968, Wikimedia commons.