Biography

About Vrouwtje Keizer-Hekster and her family.

Vrouwtje Hekster was a daughter of Fredrik Simon Hekster from Steenwijkerwold and Debora Gassan from Amsterdam. She married Mozes Keizer 30 November 1898 in Amsterdam, a son of the parish clerk Levie Keizer and Hanna Engelsman. The couple had two children, namely Debora in 1899 and Levie in 1900.

After their marriage, Vrouwtje and Mozes lived at Weesperstraa 35 but moved 2 January 1900 to Nieuwe Kerkstraat 57IIa. Except both their children, also Vrouwtje’s father Fredrik Simon Hekster lived in with them; he was born 22 February 1837 and passed away in Amsterdam 13 April 1911. Also Vrouwtje’s sister Mijntje Hekster lived in with them. She was born in Amsterdam 123 July 1866 but she was admitted 21 January 1925 in Het Apeldoornsche Bosch (Central Israëlitic Psychiatric Hospital) and was killed in Auschwitz 25 January 1943.

Vrouwtje’s husband worked as porter. However, he passed away already 30 April 1921 in Amsterdam and was interred in the Jewish Cemetery in Diemen. After the passing of Mozes Keizer, Vrouwtje Keizer-Hekster and both her children Debora and Levie stayed at Nieuwe Kerkstraat 57IIa. In April 1942 however, her daughter Debora married Israël Gans; he came living in then with them too.

Vrouwtje Hekster , her unmarried son Levie and her married daughter Debora were taken to Westerbork in the night of 27/28 January 1943. Debora stayed in Westerbork till she was united with her husband Israel Gans on 6 March 1943 and was put on transport then with him 10 March to Sobibor  were they were killed on arrival there on 13 March 1943. Vrouwtje Keizer-Hekster was deported to Auschwitz on 2 February 1943, together with her son Levie and on arrival there killed on 5 February 1943.

City archive of Amsterdam, family registration card of Mozes Keizer and archive card of Vrouwtje Hekster; website wiewaswie.nl; website dutchjewry.org/mokum/burialpermits/Mozes Keizer and the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration cards of Vrouwtje Keizer-Hekster, Mijntje Hekster and Levie Keizer.

All rights reserved