Koos Vorrink
Encyclopedia
Jacobus Jan Vorrink, better known as Koos Vorrink (June 7, 1891 – July 19, 1955), was a charismatic socialist leader in the Netherlands
.
, in the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland.
He started his career as a schoolteacher. On November 1, 1920 he became secretary of the Arbeiders Jeugd Organisatie (AJC), the Dutch socialist youth movement. On May 11, 1924 he became chairman of the socialist youth movement.
On July 13, 1916 he married Irene Hendrika Bergmeijer. Together they had two daughters. Only one daughter survived, Irene Vorrink
(January 7, 1918 - August 21, 1996), who would become minister of Health in the cabinet Den Uyl
(1973-1977).
Vorrinks career progressed as he became chairman of the SDAP
, the Dutch socialist party before World War II
, on April 1, 1934. He would remain chairman of the SDAP until January 1946.
occupied the Netherlands in 1940 Vorrink tried in vain to escape to England. After his failed attempt to escape he went into hiding to avoid being taken prisoner by the German
occupational forces. He was a member of the Dutch resistance, notably as an editor of the underground newspaper "Het Parool
".
On April 1, 1943 he was interred by the German occupational forces, first in the Scheveningen prison, later on in the concentration camp Sachsenhausen
, near Berlin
.
. Vorrink was charged with the arrest and prosecution of Dutch war criminals and political delinquents. Together with Hendrik Brugmans
, Vorrink was the first Dutch civil servant with a political background (nicknamed 'The Schermerboys").
After the elections of 1946 he became a member of parliament, as a member of the social-democratic PvdA. He remained a member of parliament until 1954. As a member of parliament he was well known for his anti-communism
. Vorrink therefore became the subject of a communist campaign of slander. As his rhetorical qualities were famous, in parliament he acted as the defence spokesman of the PvdA.
In February 1955 Vorrink suffered a stroke
. He died on July 19, 1955 in Amsterdam
.
Netherlands
The 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...
.
Early life
Koos Vorrink was born on June 7, 1891 in VlaardingenVlaardingen
Vlaardingen is a town in South Holland in the Netherlands. It is located on the north bank of the Nieuwe Maas/Nieuwe Waterweg river at the confluence with the Oude Maas...
, in the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland.
He started his career as a schoolteacher. On November 1, 1920 he became secretary of the Arbeiders Jeugd Organisatie (AJC), the Dutch socialist youth movement. On May 11, 1924 he became chairman of the socialist youth movement.
On July 13, 1916 he married Irene Hendrika Bergmeijer. Together they had two daughters. Only one daughter survived, Irene Vorrink
Irene Vorrink
Irene Vorrink was a PvdA politician. She was Minister of Health in the cabinet Den Uyl ....
(January 7, 1918 - August 21, 1996), who would become minister of Health in the cabinet Den Uyl
Netherlands cabinet Den Uyl
The Den Uyl cabinet was a Dutch left-wing cabinet under prime minister Joop den Uyl with ministers from PvdA, PPR, D66, KVP and ARP. The last two parties were actually moderately right-wing, but left-wing elements within these parties supported cabinet den Uyl to create a left-wing majority...
(1973-1977).
Vorrinks career progressed as he became chairman of the SDAP
SDAP
# Sociaal Democratische Arbeiders Partij, a Dutch political party that later merged into the Partij van de Arbeid# Social Democratic Workers' Party of Germany, a German political party that later merged into the Social Democratic Party of Germany...
, the Dutch socialist party before 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...
, on April 1, 1934. He would remain chairman of the SDAP until January 1946.
Life during World War II
As Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupied the Netherlands in 1940 Vorrink tried in vain to escape to England. After his failed attempt to escape he went into hiding to avoid being taken prisoner by the German
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...
occupational forces. He was a member of the Dutch resistance, notably as an editor of the underground newspaper "Het Parool
Het Parool
Het Parool is an Amsterdam-based daily newspaper. It was founded as a resistance paper during World War II by Frans Van Heuven Goedhart and Jaap Nunes Vaz...
".
On April 1, 1943 he was interred by the German occupational forces, first in the Scheveningen prison, later on in the concentration camp Sachsenhausen
Sachsenhausen (Oranienburg)
Sachsenhausen is a district of the town Oranienburg, which is on the outskirts of Berlin.It was notorious as the site of the Nazi concentration camp also called Sachsenhausen....
, near Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Later life
In July 1945 he was appointed as a civil servant by prime-minister Willem SchermerhornWillem Schermerhorn
Willem "Wim" Schermerhorn was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1945 until 1946. He was the first Prime Minister after World War II. -Early life:...
. Vorrink was charged with the arrest and prosecution of Dutch war criminals and political delinquents. Together with Hendrik Brugmans
Hendrik Brugmans
Hendrik Brugmans was the son of historian Hajo Brugmans and Maria Keizer. He studied history of French literature at the Universiteit van Amsterdam and the Sorbonne University in Paris....
, Vorrink was the first Dutch civil servant with a political background (nicknamed 'The Schermerboys").
After the elections of 1946 he became a member of parliament, as a member of the social-democratic PvdA. He remained a member of parliament until 1954. As a member of parliament he was well known for his anti-communism
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
. Vorrink therefore became the subject of a communist campaign of slander. As his rhetorical qualities were famous, in parliament he acted as the defence spokesman of the PvdA.
In February 1955 Vorrink suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. He died on July 19, 1955 in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.