History of Sorts

It’s just a class of ordinary schoolchildren doing arts and crafts that doesn’t pose a threat to anyone. At first glance, it appears to be a regular photograph of school children, but if you look closely, you will see each one is wearing a star.

The photograph from March 1943 was of the request of the Jewish Council in Amsterdam.

The Extracurricular Youth Care (BJZ) was one of the dozens of departments of the Jewish Council in Amsterdam. The BJZ was a welcome distraction from everyday worries for Jewish children. In the few available and hardly usable premises, the BJZ tried to create a relaxed atmosphere. Jewish youth leaders entertained the children with activities, such as crafts, music, folk dances and Jewish history. There was also a lot of sports. It met a clear need because Jewish children were not allowed to be members of sports and other entertainment associations.

A sad and disturbing part of the war was how the majority of Dutch Jewish children were deported and murdered by the Nazi regime. These kids were not an army or an organized militia group—they were just ordinary school children.

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