The Philips employee who helped thousands of Jews in World War II, Jan Zwartendijk, is to get a monument in Eindhoven. This is according to the City Council.
‘The Eindhoven Oscar Schindler’, he is called. He provided thousands of false visas for Jews so they could flee from the Nazis. At the start of the Second World War, Zwartendijk worked as Philips Branch Manager in Lithuania. He was asked to temporarily also become a consul. And in that function, he could provide visas.
Last year, Zwartendijk got a monument in his Lithuanian home of Kaunas. Now, at the end of this year, during the Glow light festival, another work of art will be added. This time on Mathildelaan in the Eindhoven City Centre. It was created by Titia Ex.
“The story of Jan Zwartendijk fits directly in with the city of Eindhoven. Eindhoven is the city of light. This title was not only acquired through the establishment of Philips Gloeilampen (Philips Light Bulbs) in Eindhoven but also what Philips stood for in the metaphorical sense,” this city’s Municipality states.
“Care for people in housing and health care. It is about values, about preserving human dignity. This was also done by Jan Zwartendijk, a Philips man until his retirement. In the dark days of World War II, he prevented the light from being extinguished.”
Last year, already, there was an exhibition about Jan Zwartendijk in the Philips Museum.
Source: www.studio040.nl
Translated by: Bob
Edited by: Melinda
