Zwaan de Anton ; Former Wife: Kuilman Catherina

Zwaan de, Anton J. Kuilman, Catherina Anton de Zwaan and his wife, Catherina (later Kuilman), saved the lives of about 25 Jews during the dreadful years of the German occupation of the Netherlands. These Jews would either find refuge in their home in Almelo (Overijssel) or Anton would find others who would shelter them. Once Anton placed these Jewish fugitives in hiding he would maintain contact with them and care for their personal needs. He supplied them with food coupons, false identity papers, clothing, and books to keep up their morale. When people were in danger, it was Anton who made sure they were able to get to another safe address. At times he even succeeded in smuggling people out of the Westerbork transit camp, as was the case with Mrs. Nussbaum. During the war, Robina and her sister Gerda Kulshoff were hidden at the de Zwaan home. They arrived on August 24, 1942, and stayed for an entire year. During the day, Robina and Gerda would stay upstairs on the second floor and Catherina and Anton would bring them food, books, a heater, and keep them company. Every night, when the four-year-old daughter of the family was asleep, the two Kulshoff girls would come downstairs. The fact that they were hiding there was kept a secret. Anton and Catherina decided not to have any visitors during evening hours to allow the girls freedom in the home. Anton was always occupied with finding hiding places for groups of Jewish families from Almelo and the surrounding area. In September 1943, Anton saved Mrs. E. Halberstadt of Amsterdam and her daughter by finding them a hiding place. The situation became precarious when Philip, a five-year-old boy who had been smuggled out of the Crèche and hidden in Hengelo, was caught and mentioned “Uncle Anton” to his captors. Robina and Gerda had to flee from the de Zwaan home and Anton de Zwaan himself went to Amsterdam, where he joined the underground. On March 23, 1971, Yad Vashem recognized Anton de Zwaan and his wife, CatherinaKuilman, as Righteous Among the Nations.