He was a Dutch businessman and diplomat who issued more than 2,000 visas to Jews in Lithuania in 1940, enabling them to escape Nazi persecution and reach Japan via the Trans-Siberian Railway. He collaborated with Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese consul who gave transit visas to the refugees, despite not having permission from Tokyo. Together, they saved an estimated 9,000 to 10,000 lives.
He was Jan Zwartendijk, a man of action who saw people in need and decided to help them. He did not care about the consequences. He was motivated by his humanitarian values and his Christian faith.
But he was also a man of silence. He never spoke about what he did during the war. He did not consider himself a hero. He said: “I only did what I had to do”.
He acted without approval from his superiors and risked his life and his family’s safety. After the war, he was reprimanded by the Dutch Foreign Ministry for not following official visa procedures and never received any recognition or apology from the Dutch state. He died in 1976, unaware of how many lives he had saved.
But his legacy lives on. In 1997, Israel honoured him as a Righteous Among the Nations, a title given to non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. In 2023, he was awarded the highest possible recognition for a civilian by the Dutch government, the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords.
His descendants and some of the survivors attended the ceremony in The Hague, where he was praised by dignitaries from both countries.
“He was a very modest man who did not want to be in the spotlight,” said Rob Zwartendijk, his son. “He was a true humanitarian,” said Laimonas Talat-Kelpsa, the Lithuanian ambassador to the Netherlands.
“He saved my life and the lives of my family. He gave us hope and a future. I am forever grateful to him,” said Solly Ganor, a Holocaust survivor who received a visa from Zwartendijk.
“He was a brave and righteous man who defied the Nazis and his own government. He deserves to be honoured and remembered by all,” said Sigrid Kaag, the Dutch foreign minister.
“He was a hero of humanity. He showed that one person can make a difference. He inspired generations of people to stand up for justice and human rights,” said Naftali Bennett, the Israeli prime minister.
Jan Zwartendijk was a Dutch hero who saved thousands of Jews from Nazis. After 80 years, he was finally honoured with the highest possible recognition for a civilian.
Relevant articles:
– Dutch diplomat who saved 9.000-10.000 Jews in Lithuania during WWII was punished by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the war for ‘diverging from standard visa protocol’. After 80 years he is finally honoured with the highest possible recognition for a civilian., Reddit, 16 January 2023
– Dutch diplomat who saved thousands of Jews from Nazis finally honoured, The Times, 17 January 2023
– The Dutchman who saved Jews from the Holocaust and was punished for it, BBC News, 18 January 2023
– How a Dutch radio salesman helped thousands of Jews escape Nazi persecution, The Conversation, 19 January 2023