Lost Jewish Communities: Hardenberg, Netherlands

The first Jew reported to have settled in Hardenberg, Netherlands was one Israel Emanuel. According to known history, he arrived in the early years of the eighteenth century, and lived in Hardenberg until his death when he was also was the first to be buried at the local Jewish cemetery. His burial spot became known as Het Jodenbergje (The Jews’ Hill), where the community began to bury its dead.

During the 1760’s and 1780’s barriers were placed in the way of Jews seeking to settle in Hardenberg. Nevertheless, the Jewish population of the town continued to grow.

In 1855, the Hardenberg community consecrated its first synagogue, located on the Oosteinde. In 1903, the synagogue was moved to another building on the same street. The cemetery Het Jodenbergje ceased to be used at the end of the nineteenth century, and a new cemetery was opened on the Gramsbergerweg in 1901.

The Jews of Hardenberg worked as kosher slaughterers, tailors, clothing merchants, printers, and retailers. Community member R.E. de Bruin owned a printing plant and was the publisher of the local newspaper De Vechtstreek. He also played a prominent role in public life.

During the German occupation of the Netherlands in the Second World War, the Jews of Hardenberg suffered the same lot as Jews throughout the country. In 1942 and 1943, almost all were deported via transit camps in the Netherlands to Nazi death camps in Poland. Only a few returned alive or escaped deportation by going into hiding.

The Jewish community of Hardenberg was officially dissolved in 1947 and merged into that of Almelo. The synagogue was sold in 1948 and in 1980, despite protests, razed. In 1987, the municipal renamed a square in the neighborhood of the former synagogue after Israël Emanuel, the first Jew to settle in Hardenberg.

Jewish population of Hardenberg and surroundings by year:

1809 – 19
1840 – 37
1869 – 77
1930 – 29

(Source: jck.nl/en/page/hardenberg)