Before 1940 approximately 50 labor camps were in existence in the Netherlands. These camps were government run by the Heidemaatschappij - Moor Development Society and were intended to provide work for men between the ages of 18 and 65 who were unemployed. This society was designed to work in lieu of handing out unemployment insurance money. The workers were involved with land reclaim. It was laborious work, but they received payment albeit the wages were minimal. Before the war, Unemployment Insurance was an unknown entity. These labor camps were scattered throughout the Netherlands, but since the three northern provinces were well suited for this type of work it stands to reason that most of these camps were located in the northern three provinces of the Netherlands. At the beginning of the year 1942, several months before the deportation of the Dutch Jews to the death camps was to commence, the Nazis transformed some of these labor camps into special work camps to house only Dutch Jews, males between the ages of 18 and 65. It was not the intention to provide Jews with work although they were overworked for the months they were incarcerated in these camps. For this the Jews even were paid, albeit against a much reduced rate from the previously mentioned unemployed Dutch laborers. As would become clear later that year, the whole purpose had been to separate able bodied Jews from their families. It was, so to speak, the first step in the Nazi plan to ultimately exterminate all Dutch Jews.

       In the 40th edition of het Joodsche Weekblad - the Jewish Weekly issued by the Jewish Counsel of Amsterdam on 9 January 1942, the Chairmen Mr. Asscher and Mr. Cohen made the following announcement:

       The authorities have decided, that in addition to camps already in existence and meant to provide work for the unemployed, also camps were to be set up for Jews who live in the Netherlands and who as a result of the measures taken have become unemployed. These camps fall under the authority the Dutch Government Employment Services: The same conditions apply for these camps as for the other camps, (the only difference being that the pay is slightly reduced) and they fall under the same supervision. Those men, who following medical examination are ordered to report to one of these camps, are advised in their own best interest to comply with this summons.
The Chairmen of the Jewish Counsel Amsterdam.
              A. ASSCHER.
              Prof. dr. D. COHEN.

The Jewish Counsel for Amsterdam
Photo courtesy NIOD

l. to r.: M. de Vries, J. Brandon, A. Asscher,
D. Cohen, A. v.d. Laan

        The Jewish Counsel for Amsterdam issued the direction (see left) by order of the German Authorities. In stead of authorities in reality the Nazis were meant. And with the words broadening of work opportunities was meant the removal of all able Jewish men away from their families. The remark between brackets slightly reduced pay was added by order of the Nazis. The counsel had to pass it on. The idea that Jews could earn the same wages as non Jews apparently was not tolerated.

       Niek van der Oord, author of the book "JODENKAMPEN - Labor camps for Jews" writes: "The idea of isolating Jews by putting them in labor camps is not new. Already for many years such special labor camps were in existence in Nazi Germany. The occupying forces saw many advantages in separating these able bodied Jewish. Logically it was this group that would possibly object, even resist the most, once deportation to transit camp Westerbork and from there to the extermination centers in the East got underway. Once the men were sent to these so-called labor camps, only the women, children and the seniors would be left. They would become easy prey."

       Author van der Oord chose the correct words when he introduces his book. Rather than referring to these camps as labor camps he calls them places of banishment. He writes, "Places of banishment, that is what they were. Balderhaar, Blesdijke, Diever, Elsloo, Fochteloo, Geesbrug, Kremboong, Mantinga, Rouveen, Sellingerbeets, Vledder. Who had ever heard of these places? Regions, hamlets somewhere in the thinly populated provinces of Groningen, Friesland, Drente and Overijsel. In the beginning of 1942 these were the ideal places where the Nazis could herd together nearly all the Jewish men between the ages of 18 and 62." For the most part, these Jewish labor camps were not used longer than 9 months. On the 2nd of October 1942 they were practically all cleared at the same time. After that date the dreaded round-up of the rest of the Jews, called razzia's - raids, began and the rest of the Jewish population gradually was deported via Vught and Westerbork to the extermination centres in Poland.

       Before the outbreak of the war, Jewish refugees coming out of Nazi Germany were also housed in centers specifically designed for that purpose, providing housing for the refugees. These were not the most modern, nor the most convenient homes, centers or camps. Nevertheless, they provided shelter for the fleeing refugees. In total 25 Refugee Centers were in use between the years 1933 to 1939. After the 9th of October 1939, Centraal Vluchtelingenkamp Westerbork - Central Refugee Camp Westerbork basically was used to accommodate these refugees. The name of the camp was changed to Durchgangslager Westerbork - Transit camp Westerbork in 1942