Dave Wijnkoop
David Joseph Wijnkoop (1876-1941)
Member of Parliament 1918-19??, 19??-1941
was the most prominent member. David Wijnkoop, as he is commonly known
(though his family and friends always called him 'Dave', pronounced the
English way), was a co-founder of the Dutch Communist Party. Around 1960,
his personal archives went from the house of his widow
Joosje to the Institute for Marxism-Leninism in Moscow, USSR. But
in the recent past, the new Russian authorities have been opening their
(rcchidni) archives and, bit by bit, microfilmed copies of the 'Wijnkoop-archief',
20 rolls of film so far, arrived at the IISG, the Internationaal
Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis (= history) in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
It is surprising the archive still exists: 1940, when the Nazis searched
Wijnkoop's house, they forgot to search the attic ..
Most of the information on this page though comes from other sources,
as I didn't have the chance to visit the IISG, yet. Please do realize that
the following is still very incomplete, text in grey
characters or in italics is not certain, or unclear. New
data, added after the 19th of May 1999 are displayed in green. Any
further information would be highly appreciated, so if you can add something
to this page, please
send me an E-mail.
Dates and places on this page are taken from various sources. First, they come from my father's notes in my private files. I am quite sure he took them from the GAA, the Municipal Archives of Amsterdam around 1960, but I will confirm that as soon as possible. Second, they come from the book 'David Wijnkoop', a biography by A.J. Koejemans, published by Moussault's Uitgeverij NV, Amsterdam in 1967. Third, they come from newspaper advertisements, collected in the clippings files at the CBG, the Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie in Den Haag. All places are in the Netherlands, unless stated otherwise.
Genealogy - Letter to Lenin - AJK's biography - Remarks - Sources - Nederlands
1. Hartogh Joseph Wijnkoop, born about 1757 - died 1817.10.13,
aged 60.
Married unknown, possibly to a miss Wijnkoop.
On February 3, 1812 he officially chose the name 'Wijnkoop' as his
family name, maybe because it was his wife's family
name. Every Dutch person had to register a family name within one
year from August 18, 1811, by Empirial Decrete of Napoleon I which was
renewed on May 17, 1813 and, after the French occupation, again by Royal
Decision on November 8, 1825.
His children were:
2. Esther, born about 1789 - died ?; on February 3, 1812, she was aged
23.
3. Bethje, born about 1791 - died ?; on February 3, 1812, she was aged
21.
4. David Hartog, born about 1794 - died 1862.08.08 in Amsterdam; on
February 3, 1812, he was aged 18.
4. David Hartog Wijnkoop, born about 1794 - died 1862.08.08 in
Amsterdam, middle class citizen who probably had
a shop in the St. Anthoniebreestraat. When he died, he was aged
68; the witnesses did not sign because of the jewish Sabbath.
Married, acc. to GEP: '875', Jetje van
Praag (her death announcement writes D. van Praag), born about 1803 - died
1878.08.24, aged 75. In 1873 she lived in Hilversum.
Their children were:
5. Joseph D. (born 1842.08.14 - died ?); 'only legal son', exempt from
military service on 1862.07.05.
6. Francisca, born ? - died after 1910.10.01; on that date she placed
an ad for 'our brother, uncle and uncle in law' J.D. Wijnkoop. She signed
with Francisca Stokes-Wijnkoop, London. She was married to Mr. Stokes,
and had at least one child, ? Stokes, that was married too.
- maybe nother daughter? On 1906.10.3,
J.D. Wijnkoop published an advertisement, thanking for the pity with the
death of 'our sister, sister in law and aunt; but
she might also be a sister of his wife, Milia Nijburg.
5. Joseph David Wijnkoop (born 1842.08.14**
- died 1910.10.?? - AJK 34), rabbi, hebraist.
Knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau.
He married Milia Nijburg on 1873.11.25 in Amsterdam (AJK 29); he signed
his marriage as J.D**. Wijnkoop; follows 5a.
Initially an autodidact, Joseph became assessor with the Netherlands
Israelitic Main Synagoge, and rabbi there since about 1875; he studied
ancient languages from 1866 at the University of Amsterdam (where he later
became private teacher), the first rabbi to study at both the jewish Seminary
and the public university where he passed his candidate's exams. He finished
the complete studies, but the chief rabbi dr. J.H. Dünner - not a
very popular man, those days - did not allow him to do his doctoral exams.
Nonetheless, he was a hebraist of at least European if not world fame.
For a short period, he was chief rabbi of Amersfoort, later he was (second)
rabbi of Amsterdam again.
In 1881 he published 'Darchea Hannesigah (sive
Leges De Accentus Hebraicae Linguae Ascensione)', of which I recently purchased
a copy. It was published by E.J. Brill, editors in Leiden, Netherlands,
and is in absolute new state. In 1884 he published a brochure against
the radical labour movement, of which his son would become such an important
member (AJK 30-34).
On 1889.03.28, on 1890?.06.??, on 1896.01.??, on 1902.03.?? and on
1902.09.?? (Jewish date 13 Eloel 5662) he published advertisements
to thank people for their 'participation', it's is unclear on which occasions
he did that. In the third ad, he writes it is a pleasant duty to thank
them. On 1880?.06.25 he published an ad to thank 'the honourable givers'
for helping 'the unlucky familyfather', signed J.D. Wijnkoop, A van Loen.
Their children were:
7. Dave (born 1876.03.11 - died 1941-05-07 in Amsterdam).
and, born after the family moved to the Plantage Kerklaan (AJK 35):
8. Henriëtte (born about 1876/1877 - died ?); married 1906.04.25
in Amsterdam Meijer Pool Mzn., medical doctor, son of M. Ph. Pool who was
a widower. On 1910.10.01 they lived in Rotterdam and maybe had a child
(or children).
9. Naphtali (born 1877.05.27 - died ?).
10. Rosalie (born 1878.06.05 - died after long illness1914.09.??).married
before 1910.10.01 Rud. Elion, on that date they lived in Amsterdam and
probably had children.
11. a daughter, born 1882.03.11 in Amsterdam - died ?
** according to AJK 29, he was 34 at Dave's birth, but according
to GEP 5 he was 33 years old ??
5a. Milia (as her call name became during her youth in the UK;
Mietje,
in her marriage file and in the birth file of her son Dave; Amelia,
in an advertisement; Dientje, in the population register) Nijburg
or
Nyburg (born about 1855*** in Amsterdam (AJK 29) - died after (1941) 19??
in the Joodse Invalide, a jewish house for the 3rd age) was a daughter
of Nathan Simon Nijburg and Roosje Jacob de Wilde. Nijburg was merchand
of diamonds in Amsterdam and later in London UK, after that the family
returned to Amsterdam. November 1873 they lived Spinozastraat, W 92m.
According to Dave Wijnkoop, "the Wijnkoops weren't jewish before the
beginning of the 18th century"; and "the legend wants - I don't know anything
for sure and in fact I don't really care - that the de Wildes hadn't been
jewish 'for very long' yet"; and "the Nyburgs were from Denmark, and probably
jewish from around 1800"; and "only the van Praags, my mother's mother's
family, are said to be originally jewish from generation to generation.".
*** according to AJK 29 she married with 17 and when Dave was born
she was 21 - which cannot be correct. According to AJK 30 she was 13 years
younger than her husband.
7. David Jozef (Dave) Wijnkoop (born 1876.03.11 in Amsterdam
- died 1941.07.05 in Amsterdam), politician, Member of Parliament, Member
of the Amsterdam Council.
Jewish baptism Barwitswa, around 1890, with the names: David ben Menemoe
Raw Jetschak Josef Bentsion Wijnkoop. Later, his religion did not mean
much for him anymore. At the time of his birth, the family's address was
Nieuwe Herengracht 67, shortly after that Plantage Kerklaan, both in Amsterdam.
After the Gymnasium, he studied Dutch language at the (municipal) Universty
of Amsterdam and wrote for Propria Cures, an influentual students magazine.
For some time, he worked for the insurance company 'De Centrale' (now 'De
Reaal'), like his brother Naphtali. In 1921 he lived Pretoriusplein 3-III,
Amsterdam; and during the period he was member of the Amsterdam council
(at the same time as Mr. Dr. C.P.M. Romme, in the early thirties), he lived
in the Transvaalbuurt, Amsterdam (AJK 297). In 1934 he visited the USSR.
Married 1, on 1907.08.07 in Amsterdam, Emma Josephine (Ems) Hess, the
banns were published 1907.07.23; they had no children; they divorced on
1910.07.08.
Married 2, on 1912.06.27, Johanna (Joosje) van Rees, born about 1882
- died 1967.09.19, aged 85. For her, it was the 2nd marriage, too; she
was not jewish. Here parents were Jan van Rees, merchand
of tea, and Jenny van Enter.
Their children were:
12. Jan-Jozef (born 1913.08.29 in Amsterdam - ?).
13. Isha Themans (born about 1917? 1919? - died 1922.03.19, aged 13).
9. Naphtali J. Wijnkoop (born about 1877/1878 - died ?), insurance
inspector, who worked for ‘De Centrale’ (now 'De Reaal), like his brother
Dave.
Married on 1905.03.01 Cato Prins, the banns were published 1905.02.16.
On 1910.10.01 they lived in Watergraafsmeer Their children:
14. a son, born 1906.06.09 in Watergraafsmeer - ?.
15. a son, born 1913.08.02 in Watergraafsmeer - ?.
12. Jan Jozef Wijnkoop (born 1913.08.29 in Amsterdam - ?); MTS-engineer
(Ing.),
married J.K. Kurella, somewhere in Karelia (Finnish Russia); in 1941,
they lived in Karelis - Finnish Sovjet Republic.
Their children were:
16. Sagitta, born 1938 - died 1941 aged 2-1/2. She died during evacuation
in the winter of 1941;
17. Géorgy, born 1940 in Finland - died 1940 in Finland;
On the occasion of his mother's death, 1967.09.19, he published a death
advertisement that is signed by: Jan, Anfiesa, Marina, Slawa, Wolodja.
On (or before) 1933.03.01 a certain Jo Wijnkoop married Nettie Wijnperle, who's name sounds Jewish to me, in Amsterdam. They engaged on 1927.07.01. Further, on 1930.01.08, a Joseph Wijnkoop went bankrupt. Are Jo, Joseph and Jan-Jozef identical?
It is possible members of this part of the branch are still alive. For the rest of this branch of the Wynkoop family tree, this cannot be expected: most members of the Amsterdam jewish community did not surive the Nazi genocide.
The following is taken from www.marx.org. Please go there for more details. Text in italics is written by Vladimir Illitch Uljanov himself, who is better known as Lenin, co-founder of the USSR. I don't know why it is signed with 'N'. Lenin.
Letter to Lenin
V. In the Russian edition of this book I somewhat incorrectly described the conduct of the Communist Party of Holland as a whole, in the sphere of international revolutionary policy. I therefore avail myself of the present opportunity to publish a letter from our Dutch comrades on this question and to correct the expression "Dutch Tribunists", which I used in the Russian text, and for which I now substitute the words "certain members of the Communist Party of Holland."
N. Lenin
Dear Comrade Lenin
Thanks to your kindness, we members of the Dutch delegation to the Second Congress of the Communist International were able to read your Left-Wing Communism -- An Infantile Disorder prior to its publication in the European languages. In several places in the book you emphasise your disapproval of the part played by some members of the Communist Party of Holland in international politics.
We feel, nevertheless, that we must protest against your laying the responsibility for their actions on the Communist Party. This is highly inaccurate. Moreover, it is unjust, because these members of the Communist Party of Holland take little or no part in the Party's current activities and are endeavouring, directly or indirectly, to give effect, in the Communist Party of Holland, to opposition slogans against which the Party and all its organs have waged, and continue to wage to this day, a most energetic struggle.
Fraternally yours,
D. J. Wijnkoop
(on behalf of the Dutch delegation)
In his biography 'David Wijnkoop, een mens in strijd voor het socialisme' (a man fighting for socialism; published by Moussault's Uitgeverij NV, Editors, Amsterdam in 1967; AJK with a page number refers to this book), A.J. Koejemans gives an interesting view on the personality of Dave Wijnkoop. This is not the place for a discussion about communism - a discussion that today seems to be redundant anyway - but while reading this, please realize that Dave Wijnkoop's social and political convictions in the early 20th century had very little to do with the inhuman totalitary systems that fell apart during the last decade of that same century. In fact, Dave Wijnkoop was a real and honest 'representative of the people', and he was one of the extremely few in human history to bear that title, and his responsability to the electorate, with honour.
.. during a very noisy strike meeting of harbour labourers in 1909: "Mr. Chairman, do I have the word? Then make sure I can keep the word!" (p.298).
.. Willem Drees, long time prime minister and co-architect of the Netherlands of today, a strong political enemy of Wijnkoop: "He had something, that usually fails with political fanatics: a sense of humour" (p.294).
.. on Juli 30, 1940, Wijnkoop and his wife went underground, hiding
for the Nazis. They lived with friends in the south of Amsterdam as Jan
and Marie de Vries. Though in bad health after two heart attacks, he still
lived to see the famous February-1941-Strike, a general strike against
the occupation by the terror regime of the Nazi's, protesting against the
pogroms and the persecution of the jews. To him, it was the greatest day
of his life ..
.. on the evening of the sunny 7th of Mai, 1941, Wijnkoop got up
to get a book from his library, but he suddenly felt bad. He went back
to Joosje and caressed her the way he always did. Then he fell and died
from a heart attack ..
.. a man from the funeral company came to do his job. He didn't
seem to be sober. But his hands were able, and his mind was clear. On leaving,
he looked the others straight in the eyes, and pointing at the room were
the mortal remains lied in state, said: "He looks like Wijnkoop!" And as
this was confirmed, an endless satisfaction sounded in his voice, when
he said: "So they didn't get him after all!" (p.288-291).
Hopefully soon, there will be more information on this page about Dave Wijnkoop and his branch of the Wijnkoop family.
Dates and places on this page are taken from various sources. First, they come from my father's notes in my private files (GEP). I am quite sure he took them around 1960 from the GAA, the Municipal Archives of Amsterdam, but I will confirm that as soon as possible. Second, they come from the book 'David Wijnkoop', a biography by A.J. Koejemans, published by Moussault's Uitgeverij NV, Amsterdam in 1967 (AJK). Third, they come from newspaper advertisements, collected in the clippings files at the CBG, the Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie in Den Haag (CBG). All places are in the Netherlands, unless stated otherwise. To keep this page readable, I moved most of the original source quotings to a separate source page.
Other sources I plan to research: the archives of the IISG / the CPN
/ newspaper De Waarheid / general press / historians, Drs. Willem 'Uck'
Berkelaar / jewish communities / GAA / CBG / the WWW. Further, I do vaguely
remember seeing a paper in my father's files about Hartogh Joseph adopting
the family name Wijnkoop; as well as a paper about Wijnkoop triplets, that
all three reached a relatively high age - and somehow those two papers
(and even some others) are connected in my memory.
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