Frits Philips
Encyclopedia
Frederik Jacques "Frits" Philips (April 16, 1905 – December 5, 2005) was the fourth chairman of the board of directors
of the Dutch electronics company Philips
, which his uncle and father founded. For his actions in saving 382 Jews during the Nazi Occupation of the Netherlands in World War II
, he was recognized in 1996 by Yad Vashem
as a Righteous Among the Nations
.
and his wife Anne Henriëtte Elisabeth Maria de Jongh. His paternal uncle was Gerard Philips
, who started the Philips company. His father was co-founder when in 1912 they incorporated the family business. Frits had an older sister named Annetje and a younger sister named Jettie. Their grandfather Frederik Philips was a first cousin of Karl Marx
.
In 1923, Philips started his studies at the Delft University of Technology
; he received an engineer's degree
in mechanical engineering
in 1929. He was introduced to the Oxford Group in 1934, the Christian movement that was the forerunner of Moral Re-Armament
(MRA) and Initiatives of Change
(IofC).
, he married Sylvia, Jonkheerin van Lennep (The Hague
, December 16, 1905 – Eindhoven, August 29, 1992), daughter of ..., Jonkheer van Lennep (Wiesbaden
, October 3, 1876 – The Hague
, September 13, 1951), and wife Digna Jacoba Mijer (b. Batavia, March 28, 1883). The couple had seven children: Digna (b. September 14, 1930), Anton Frederik (b. March 12, 1932), Anne Jetje (Annejet) (b. October 14, 1933), Sylvia (b. December 6, 1936), Warner, Frits (who married and had Warner (b. October 3, 1969) and Frits) and Maria.
.
Learning of the expected occupation of the Netherlands by Nazi
Germany
in World War II
in 1940, his father Anton Philips
, young nephew Frans Otten, the other Philips family members escaped from the Netherlands and fled to the United States
, taking company capital with them. Frits Philips stayed in the Netherlands. Together they managed to keep the company alive during the war.
From May 30 until September 20, 1943, Philips was held in the concentration camp Vught
because of a strike at the Philips factory. During the Occupation, Philips saved the lives of 382 Jews by convincing the Nazis that they were indispensable for the production process at Philips. In 1996, he was recognized by Yad Vashem as among the Righteous Among the Nations
for his actions.
In 1961, Philips succeeded Frans Otten as president of the company. He served in this position for 10 years; in 1971 he was succeeded by Henk van Riemsdijk.
At the age of 100, on December 5, 2005, Philips died from complications resulting from a fall in November.
Frits Philips was immensely popular in Eindhoven. The citizens of Eindhoven commonly referred to him as "Meneer Frits" (Mister Frits) . Frits made no class difference between factory workers and members of the board of directors: he was often seen chatting to the factory workers, which contributed to his popularity.
His hundredth birthday in 2005 was celebrated on a large scale in his home city of Eindhoven, which was renamed Frits Philips Stad (Frits Philips City) for the occasion. The city minted a special coin that bears the nickname "Fritske". The yearly Lichtjesroute
event honoured him that year by placing a picture of him highlighted along the route (see right).
At the age of 100, Frits Philips frequently visited the home football
matches of PSV. He did not use the stadium's
business lounge; instead he sat in the crowd — section D, row 22, seat 43. The administration of PSV has announced that this seat will remain empty as a memorial for their faithful supporter. The night he died, supporters paid their tribute in a minute's silence for their "Mr. Frits" prior to the match (PSV-Fenerbahçe 2-0, 6-12-2005).
, based on a sketch which he made on a paper napkin. The Evoluon was used as an educational centre for science and technology.
In 1989 the city closed the Evoluon to the public and adapted it for use as a conference centre, much to Philips' regret. In the last years of his life, he tried to raise interest to restore the Evoluon and return it to public uses for the citizens of Eindhoven.
The Caux Round Table
In 1986, Frits Philips launched the Caux Round Table
(CRT) group of senior European, Japanese and American business executives. Alarmed to hear that the Japanese were dumping their products on the western market, he feared a growing trade war. He saw the need to build trust among international executives and for Corporate Social Responsibility practices. The CRT’s Principles for Business were published in 1994, incorporating western concepts (human dignity...) and Japanese ones (kyosei, interpreted as “living and working together for the common good”). An international code of good practices written by such senior industrialists from such varied backgrounds remains exceptional today. It was presented to the UN Social Summit in Copenhagen in 1994. It has since become a standard work, translated into 12 languages,and has been used as the basis for internal ethical assessments by international companies such as Nissan.
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Dutch electronics company Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
, which his uncle and father founded. For his actions in saving 382 Jews during the Nazi Occupation of the Netherlands in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was recognized in 1996 by Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953 through the Yad Vashem Law passed by the Knesset, Israel's parliament....
as a Righteous Among the Nations
Righteous Among the Nations
Righteous among the Nations of the world's nations"), also translated as Righteous Gentiles is an honorific used by the State of Israel to describe non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis....
.
Early life and education
Frits Philips was born in the city of Eindhoven in the south of the Netherlands. The second child, he was the only son of Anton PhilipsAnton Philips
Anton Frederik Philips co-founded Royal Philips Electronics N.V. in 1912 with his older brother Gerard Philips in Eindhoven, the Netherlands...
and his wife Anne Henriëtte Elisabeth Maria de Jongh. His paternal uncle was Gerard Philips
Gerard Philips
Gerard Leonard Frederik Philips was a Dutch industrialist, co-founder of the Philips Company as a family business in 1891. Gerard and his younger brother Anton Philips changed the business to a corporation by founding in 1912 the NV Philips' Gloeilampenfabrieken...
, who started the Philips company. His father was co-founder when in 1912 they incorporated the family business. Frits had an older sister named Annetje and a younger sister named Jettie. Their grandfather Frederik Philips was a first cousin of Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
.
In 1923, Philips started his studies at the Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology , also known as TU Delft, is the largest and oldest Dutch public technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands...
; he received an engineer's degree
Engineer's degree
An engineer's degree is an advanced academic degree in engineering that is conferred in Europe, some countries of Latin America, and a few institutions in the United States....
in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
in 1929. He was introduced to the Oxford Group in 1934, the Christian movement that was the forerunner of Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament was an international Christian moral and spiritual movement that, in 1938, developed from the American minister Frank Buchman's Oxford Group. Buchman, a Lutheran, headed MRA for 23 years, from 1938 until his death in 1961...
(MRA) and Initiatives of Change
Initiatives of Change
Initiatives of Change is a global organization dedicated to "building trust across the world's divides" of culture, nationality, belief, and background...
(IofC).
Marriage and family
The Oxford Group was a life-long source of inspiration to him and his wife. On July 4, 1929 in The HagueThe Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, he married Sylvia, Jonkheerin van Lennep (The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, December 16, 1905 – Eindhoven, August 29, 1992), daughter of ..., Jonkheer van Lennep (Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, October 3, 1876 – The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, September 13, 1951), and wife Digna Jacoba Mijer (b. Batavia, March 28, 1883). The couple had seven children: Digna (b. September 14, 1930), Anton Frederik (b. March 12, 1932), Anne Jetje (Annejet) (b. October 14, 1933), Sylvia (b. December 6, 1936), Warner, Frits (who married and had Warner (b. October 3, 1969) and Frits) and Maria.
Career
On October 18, 1935 Frits Philips was appointed vice-director and a member of the board of PhilipsPhilips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
.
Learning of the expected occupation of the Netherlands by Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1940, his father Anton Philips
Anton Philips
Anton Frederik Philips co-founded Royal Philips Electronics N.V. in 1912 with his older brother Gerard Philips in Eindhoven, the Netherlands...
, young nephew Frans Otten, the other Philips family members escaped from the Netherlands and fled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, taking company capital with them. Frits Philips stayed in the Netherlands. Together they managed to keep the company alive during the war.
From May 30 until September 20, 1943, Philips was held in the concentration camp Vught
Vught
Vught is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands. It is a town where lots of commuters live and has recently been named "Best place to live" by the Dutch magazine Elsevier.-Politics:...
because of a strike at the Philips factory. During the Occupation, Philips saved the lives of 382 Jews by convincing the Nazis that they were indispensable for the production process at Philips. In 1996, he was recognized by Yad Vashem as among the Righteous Among the Nations
Righteous Among the Nations
Righteous among the Nations of the world's nations"), also translated as Righteous Gentiles is an honorific used by the State of Israel to describe non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis....
for his actions.
In 1961, Philips succeeded Frans Otten as president of the company. He served in this position for 10 years; in 1971 he was succeeded by Henk van Riemsdijk.
At the age of 100, on December 5, 2005, Philips died from complications resulting from a fall in November.
Mr. Frits
His hundredth birthday in 2005 was celebrated on a large scale in his home city of Eindhoven, which was renamed Frits Philips Stad (Frits Philips City) for the occasion. The city minted a special coin that bears the nickname "Fritske". The yearly Lichtjesroute
Lichtjesroute
The ' is a festival held every autumn in Eindhoven, in the southern Netherlands. It starts with a parade on 18 September, celebrating the liberation of Eindhoven during World War II on that date in 1944...
event honoured him that year by placing a picture of him highlighted along the route (see right).
At the age of 100, Frits Philips frequently visited the home football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
matches of PSV. He did not use the stadium's
Philips Stadion
Philips Stadion is the 35,000 seater stadium of football club, PSV Eindhoven. It was first inaugurated on 31 August 1913. The stadium is located in the Philipsdorp part of the Eindhoven borough of Strijp, close to Eindhoven's city centre....
business lounge; instead he sat in the crowd — section D, row 22, seat 43. The administration of PSV has announced that this seat will remain empty as a memorial for their faithful supporter. The night he died, supporters paid their tribute in a minute's silence for their "Mr. Frits" prior to the match (PSV-Fenerbahçe 2-0, 6-12-2005).
Evoluon
In 1966 the company Philips celebrated its 75th anniversary. For this occasion, Frits Philips wanted to give the people of Eindhoven a beautiful gift to support education. The result was a building named EvoluonEvoluon
The Evoluon is a conference centre and former science museum erected by the electronics and electrical company Philips in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, in 1966. Since its construction, it has become a landmark and a symbol for the city....
, based on a sketch which he made on a paper napkin. The Evoluon was used as an educational centre for science and technology.
In 1989 the city closed the Evoluon to the public and adapted it for use as a conference centre, much to Philips' regret. In the last years of his life, he tried to raise interest to restore the Evoluon and return it to public uses for the citizens of Eindhoven.
The Caux Round TableCaux Round TableThe Caux Round Table is an international organization of senior business executives aiming to promote ethical business practice. It was founded in 1986 by Frits Philips, president of Philips, and Olivier Giscard d'Estaing, along with Ryuzaburo Kaku, president of Canon...
In 1986, Frits Philips launched the Caux Round TableCaux Round Table
The Caux Round Table is an international organization of senior business executives aiming to promote ethical business practice. It was founded in 1986 by Frits Philips, president of Philips, and Olivier Giscard d'Estaing, along with Ryuzaburo Kaku, president of Canon...
(CRT) group of senior European, Japanese and American business executives. Alarmed to hear that the Japanese were dumping their products on the western market, he feared a growing trade war. He saw the need to build trust among international executives and for Corporate Social Responsibility practices. The CRT’s Principles for Business were published in 1994, incorporating western concepts (human dignity...) and Japanese ones (kyosei, interpreted as “living and working together for the common good”). An international code of good practices written by such senior industrialists from such varied backgrounds remains exceptional today. It was presented to the UN Social Summit in Copenhagen in 1994. It has since become a standard work, translated into 12 languages,and has been used as the basis for internal ethical assessments by international companies such as Nissan.
Awards and honours
Frits Philips has received many honorary titles and awards during his life.- 1965, he received honorary citizenship of the city of Eindhoven for his "exceptional contributions to the welfare of the citizens of Eindhoven".
- 1965, he was included in the DutchNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
royal ranks of Orange Nassau (rank of commander). - 1970, he was knighted as Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. He has also received honorary titles in many countries, including JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. See for a complete list of honours and decorations. - 1995, on his 90th birthday, the Muziekcentrum Frits Philips (Frits Philips Music Hall) was named after him.
- 1996, he was honoured as "Righteous Among the NationsRighteous Among the NationsRighteous among the Nations of the world's nations"), also translated as Righteous Gentiles is an honorific used by the State of Israel to describe non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis....
" by Yad VashemYad VashemYad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953 through the Yad Vashem Law passed by the Knesset, Israel's parliament....
, for saving the lives of 382 Jewish employees of Philips during WWII. - 1999, he was named "Dutch entrepreneur of the century".
Books and biographies
- ISBN 978-90-76501-04-8 Meneer Frits, the human factor, dr ir F J Philips, by Dorothée F. Foole (in both English and Dutch languages)
- ISBN 978-90-5994-084-0 Frits Philips 100 by Guus Bekooy (in Dutch language)
- ISBN 978-90-5018-612-4 Ze zullen weten wie ze voor zich hebben by Marcel Metze (in Dutch language)
- ISBN 978-0-7137-0931-5 45 Years with Philips by Frederik Philips (in both English and Dutch languages)
- Biography as published in the Eindhovens Dagblad (Eindhoven Daily) newspaper.