--- title: "Westerbork" description: "What was former Nazi transit camp Westerbork in The Netherlands" url: "https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/westerbork" date: "2026-08-10T16:32:07+00:00" language: "en-GB" --- ![Camp Westerbork transit camp history](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-slide.jpg) # Westerbork ## History of Westerbork Concentration Camp Victims: 500 to 700 prisoners lost their lives [](#) [](#) - [ Westerbork](#) Remember the victims of Westerbork ![ A Star of David, a yellow star as a tool of exclusion of the Jews](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/32/D-Day-normandy-beyond-Jodenster-32c9fec7.png?src=images/jews/D-Day-normandy-beyond-Jodenster.png&thumbnail=550,579,&hash=3d6ad4d5) **Camp Westerbork was a transit camp in Drenthe province, northeastern Netherlands**, during World War 2. Established by the **Dutch government in the summer of 1939**, Camp Westerbork was meant to serve as a refugee camp for Jews from Germany who had illegally entered the Netherlands. Camp Westerbork was utilized as a staging ground for the deportation of Jews. Only one-half square kilometer (119 acres) in area, the camp was not built for the purpose of industrial murder as were the Nazi extermination camps in Poland. "Survival is a privilege which entails obligations. I am forever asking myself what I can do for those who have not survived". ##### *Simon Wiesenthal* - [ History ](#history) - [ Footage ](#footage) - [ Prisoners ](#prisoners) - [ Liberation ](#liberation) - [ Testimony ](#testimony) - [ Commanders ](#commanders) ![Kamp Westerbork religion](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-001.jpg)### Kamp Westerbork ![Kamp Westerbork theatre](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-002.jpg)### Kamp Westerbork ![Kamp Westerbork dentist](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-003.jpg)### Kamp Westerbork ![Kamp Westerbork school](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-004.jpg)### Kamp Westerbork ![Kamp Westerbork main road](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-005.jpg)### Kamp Westerbork ![Kamp Westerbork transit](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-006.jpg)### Kamp Westerbork ![Kamp Westerbork terrain](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-007.jpg)### Kamp Westerbork ![Kamp Westerbork selections](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-009.jpg)### Kamp Westerbork ![Kamp Westerbork inhabitants](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-010.jpg)### Kamp Westerbork [](#) [](#) - [Kamp Westerbork](#) - [Kamp Westerbork](#) - [Kamp Westerbork](#) - [Kamp Westerbork](#) - [Kamp Westerbork](#) - [Kamp Westerbork](#) - [Kamp Westerbork](#) - [Kamp Westerbork](#) - [Kamp Westerbork](#) Copyright: USHMM, Bundesarchiv, Camps, Arolsen Archives and others (used with permission) ### Establishment and operational history The **Westerbork** transit camp was considered by **Nazi** standards as “humane”. Jewish inmates with families were housed in **200** interconnected cottages that contained **two** rooms, a toilet, a hot plate for cooking, and a small yard. Single inmates were placed in oblong barracks which contained a bathroom for each sex. Train waggons were used at **Westerbork** from **July 1942** to **September 1944** which deported around **105,000** Jews during the period. Jewish inmates were deported in waves to **Auschwitz concentration camp** (**65** waggons of **60,330** people), **Sobibor** (**19** waggons of **34,313** people), [**Theresienstadt ghetto**](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/the-ghettos/theresienstadt) and the **[Bergen-Belsen](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/bergen-belsen) concentration camp** (**9** waggons of **4,894** people). Almost all of the **94,643** people deported to the [**Auschwitz**](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/auschwitz) complex and [**Sobibor**](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/sobibor) in German-occupied Poland were killed upon arrival. The **Westerbork** transit camp also had a school, orchestra, hairdresser, and even restaurants designed by **SS** officials to give inmates a false sense of hope for survival and to aid in avoiding problems during transportation. Cultural activities provided by the **Nazis** for designated deportees included metalwork, jobs in health services, and other cultural activities. A special, separate work cadre of **2,000** “permanent” Jewish inmates was used as a camp labor force. Within this group was a sub-group constituting a camp police force which was required to assist with transports and keep order. The **SS** actually had very little to do with selecting transferees; this job fell to another class of inmates that made up a sort of security service. Most of these **2,000** "permanent" inmates were eventually sent to concentration or death camps themselves. Notable prisoners in the transit camp **Westerbork** included **Anne Frank**, who was transported to **Camp Westerbork** on **August 4, 1944** and **Etty Hillesum**, each of whom wrote of their experiences in diaries discovered after the war. **Anne** remained at the camp in a small hut until **September 3**, when she was deported to **Auschwitz**. **Etty Hillesum** was able to avoid the **Nazi** dragnet that identified Jews until **April 1942**. Even after being labeled a Jew, **Hillesum** began to report on antisemitic policies. She took a job with **Judenrat** for **two** weeks and then volunteered to accompany the first group of Jews sent to **Westerbork**. **Hillesum** stayed at **Westerbork** until **September 7, 1943**, when she was deported to **Auschwitz**. She died there **three** months later. **Camp Westerbork** also housed German film actress and cabaret singer **Dora Gerson**, who was interned there with her family before being sent to **Auschwitz**, and Professor Sir **William Asscher**, who survived the camp when his mother secured his family's release by fabricating English ancestry. **Jona Oberski** wrote of his experience as a small child at **Westerbork** in his book, Kinderjaren "Childhood", published in the **Netherlands** in **1978** and later made into the film, Jonah Who Lived in the Whale. > **Jacques Schol**, a Dutchman, was commander of the camp from **July 16 1940** and until **January 1943**. He was known for his brutality against Jewish inmates, kicking inmates to death. German authorities took control of **Westerbork** from the Dutch government on **July 1, 1942**. Deportations began under the orders of **Gestapo sub-Department IV-B4**, which was headed by [**Adolf Eichmann**](https://www.normandy1944.info/home/commanders/life-and-death-of-adolf-eichmann). Within the confines of the camp, German **SS** commanders were in charge of inmates, but squads of Jewish police and security were used to keep order and aid in transport, as noted above. Transports came to a halt at **Camp Westerbork** in **September 1944**. Allied troops neared **Westerbork** in early **April, 1945** after German officials abandoned the camp. **Westerbork** was liberated by Canadian forces on **April 12, 1945**. A total of **876** inmates were found. The **War Diary of the South Saskatchewan Regiment** referenced the camp in its entry for **April 12, 1945**. ### Camp statistics - Slogan: Westerbork was a transit camp - In operation from: May 1940 - 12 april 1945 - Prisoners during operation: 107,000 deported people - Recorded deaths: 500 to 700 people --- ### Location map ![](https://www.normandy1944.info/templates/yootheme/assets/images/consent_placeholder_map.svg) ![](https://www.normandy1944.info/templates/yootheme/assets/images/consent_icon_openstreetmap.svg)OpenStreetMap service required to load this map. ![](https://www.normandy1944.info/templates/yootheme/assets/images/consent_icon_openstreetmap.svg)OpenStreetMap service required to load this map. Location: Westerbork, the Netherlands --- [ Official website or memorial ](https://kampwesterbork.nl/) --- Page was updated on: 10 August 2026 ###### Original video footage Copyright of this video: Kamp Westerbork ##### Real eyewitness testimony from Westerbork ##### Bert Gosschalk - Westerbork survivor > "A warm thank you to the **United States Holocaust Memorial Museum** for their willingness to help in allowing their testimonies to be featured on my website". [**Visit their website here**](https://www.ushmm.org/ "United States Holocaust Memorial Museum") ### When did Westerbork cease to exist? ### The camp ceased operations on: 12 april 1945 following its liberation by soldiers of the following unit(s) ![](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/patches/Canadian-2nd-Infantry-Division.png)### South Saskatchewan Regiment, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division [](#) [](#) ##### Westerbork camp commmanders An overview of the people who ordered and inflicted the atrocities on the prisoners. ![](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/commanders/german/Jacques-Schol.jpg) ### Jacques Schol (Dutch) July 16 1940 upto 1942 ![](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/commanders/german/Erich-Deppner.jpg) ### Erich Deppner 1 juli 1942 - 1 september 1942 ![](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/commanders/german/Josef-Hugo-Dischner.jpg) ### Josef Hugo Dischner 1 september 1942 - 9 oktober 1942 ![](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/commanders/german/Albert-Konrad-Gemmeker.jpg) ### Albert Konrad Gemmeker 12 oktober 1942 - 11 april 1945 [](#) [](#) [](#) ###### Other concentration camps [ ![Dachau](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/29/D-Day-Normandy-beyond-Dachau-05-294e35fc.jpg?src=images/photos/color/dachau/D-Day-Normandy-beyond-Dachau-05.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=51b41554) ### Dachau Upper Bavaria, Southern Germany ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/dachau) [ ![Auschwitz](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/f3/d-day-normandy-beyond-auschwitz-007-f3ac14cd.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Auschwitz/d-day-normandy-beyond-auschwitz-007.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=a7f70b59) ### Auschwitz Oswiecim, Poland ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/auschwitz) [ ![Natzweiler-Struthof](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/43/Entrance-at-Natzweiler-Struthof-after-liberation-4371364c.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Majdanek/Entrance-at-Natzweiler-Struthof-after-liberation.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=5b77a022) ### Natzweiler-Struthof Natzweiler, France ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/natzweiler-struthof) [ ![Workcamp Geesbrug](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/ce/kamp-geesburg-concentration-camp-grounds-ce4229ff.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Geesburg/kamp-geesburg-concentration-camp-grounds.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=ba09cad2) ### Workcamp Geesbrug Geesbrug, The Netherlands ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/workcamp-geesbrug) [ ![Sobibor](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/aa/d-day-normandy-beyond-sobibor-002-aaccdbd1.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Sobibor/d-day-normandy-beyond-sobibor-002.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=37bd7805) ### Sobibor Sobibor, Poland ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/sobibor) [ ![Kamp Schoorl](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/3c/kamp-schoorl-concentration-camp-grounds-3cb46d65.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Schoorl/kamp-schoorl-concentration-camp-grounds.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=8f45bba9) ### Kamp Schoorl Schoorl, The Netherlands ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/kamp-schoorl) [ ![Majdanek](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/de/majdanek-concentration-camp-history-prisoners-group-dee8c783.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Majdanek/majdanek-concentration-camp-history-prisoners-group.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=5c642390) ### Majdanek Lublin, Poland ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/majdanek) [ ![Neuengamme](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/05/Entrance-to-the-SS-barracks-with-the-first-wooden-guard-tower-neuengamme-05be6f2a.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Neuengamme/Entrance-to-the-SS-barracks-with-the-first-wooden-guard-tower-neuengamme.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=296b9bba) ### Neuengamme Hamburg, Northern Germany ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/neuengamme) [ ![Camp Erika](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/72/camp-erika-netherlands-road-entrance-to-camp-724886e3.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Erika/camp-erika-netherlands-road-entrance-to-camp.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=994d1cbc) ### Camp Erika Ommen, The Netherlands ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/camp-erika) [ ![Mauthausen](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/dd/d-day-normandy-beyond-Mauthausen-main-gate-dd7bcf90.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Mauthausen/d-day-normandy-beyond-Mauthausen-main-gate.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=dbd10bca) ### Mauthausen Mauthausen, Upper Austria ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/mauthausen) [ ![Buchenwald](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/4f/D-day-normandy-beyond-Liberated-Prisoners-Buchenwald-April-18-1945-003-4faefff1.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Buchenwald/D-day-normandy-beyond-Liberated-Prisoners-Buchenwald-April-18-1945-003.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=183f2b27) ### Buchenwald Weimar, Germany ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/buchenwald) [ ![Ravensbrück](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/d5/d-day-normandy-beyond-ravensbruck-001-d51ec609.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Ravensbruck/d-day-normandy-beyond-ravensbruck-001.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=e44759c8) ### Ravensbrück Fürstenberg/Havel, Germany ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/ravensbrueck) [ ![Bergen Belsen](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/92/d-day-normandy-beyond-bergen-belsen-011-9261470b.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Bergen/d-day-normandy-beyond-bergen-belsen-011.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=f9c5da8a) ### Bergen Belsen Lower Saxony, Northern Germany ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/bergen-belsen) [ ![Westerbork](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/9d/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-008-9d0ea87e.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-008.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=c36763f2) ### Westerbork Westerbork, the Netherlands ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/westerbork) [ ![Kamp Vught](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/47/d-day-normandy-beyond-vught-001-47dd1820.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/vught/d-day-normandy-beyond-vught-001.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=9cd240bb) ### Kamp Vught Vught, Netherlands ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/kamp-vught) [ ![Amersfoort](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/4b/D-day-normandy-beyond-Amersfoort-004-4bf094d7.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Amersfoort/D-day-normandy-beyond-Amersfoort-004.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=a9a794c0) ### Amersfoort Amersfoort, The Netherlands ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/amersfoort) [ ![Sachsenhausen](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/ad/d-day-normandy-beyond-Sachsenhausen-010-ad5676b5.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Sachsenhausen/d-day-normandy-beyond-Sachsenhausen-010.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=8555e6e1) ### Sachsenhausen Oranienburg, Germany ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/sachsenhausen) [ ![Mittelbau Dora](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/11/d-day-normandy-beyond-concentration-camps-dora-mittelbau-026-11ce5fed.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/dora/d-day-normandy-beyond-concentration-camps-dora-mittelbau-026.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=8afd68fd) ### Mittelbau Dora Nordhausen, Germany ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/mittelbau-dora) [ ![Flossenbürg](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/34/d-day-normandy-beyond-concentration-camp-flossenburg-germany-001-3471f7e3.jpg?src=images/photos/Holocaust/Flossenburg/d-day-normandy-beyond-concentration-camp-flossenburg-germany-001.jpg&thumbnail=350,210,&hash=4f9217c9) ### Flossenbürg Flossenbürg, Germany ](https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/flossenbuerg) [](#) [](#) #### Cite this historical page I aim to provide accurate, open-access accurate historical records. If you are using this content for academic research, articles or educational projects, please use the citation below to credit this source. Click the button below to copy the direct URL for your research or citations. ![ Cite this historical page ](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/ea/d-day-normandy-beyond-location-eae699e4.png?src=images/misc/d-day-normandy-beyond-location.png&thumbnail=250,250,&hash=0288886f) #### Help to share this page on social media The stories on my website are meant to educate people about WW2. You can help by sharing them with your family and friends on your social platforms. Thank you so much for your assistance. - [](https://www.facebook.com/Normandy1944) - [](https://www.instagram.com/Normandy1944) - [](https://www.twitter.com/Normandy_1944) ## Schema ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.normandy1944.info/holocaust/concentrationcamps/westerbork" }, "headline": "Westerbork", "description": "What was former Nazi transit camp Westerbork in The Netherlands", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.normandy1944.info/images/photos/Holocaust/Westerbork/D-day-normandy-beyond-Westerbork-005.jpg" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Normandy1944.info – D-Day, Normandy and Beyond", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.normandy1944.info/images/logo/D-Day-Normandy-1944-WW2-logo.png" } }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank C. Everards", "url": "https://www.normandy1944.info/blog/how-it-started" }, "datePublished": "2021-01-29T12:14:08+01:00", "dateCreated": "2021-01-29T12:14:08+01:00", "dateModified": "2026-07-17T11:04:40+02:00" } ```