Politics Names of 425,000 collaborators can be viewed in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the names of around 425,000 alleged collaborators with the German Nazi occupiers during the Second World War can now be viewed online - and not everyone is happy about it.
02.01.2025, 16:23
SDA
Following concerns from descendants of the alleged collaborators, but also from relatives of the victims, it was initially decided not to make the complete files of those people who supported the Germans and in some cases committed serious crimes accessible online. For the time being, the files themselves can only be viewed in the National Archives in The Hague.
Those affected suffer from family history
For a long time, the finger was pointed at people in the Netherlands who were suspected of having been on the wrong side in the war. As the public broadcaster NOS reported, a recent survey revealed that a fifth of Dutch people would still rather not have the descendants of a collaborator in a public office, such as mayor or member of parliament.
And according to the survey, the children and grandchildren of collaborators often still suffer from their family history. Those affected on both the perpetrator and victim side now fear that opening the archives will reopen badly healed wounds.
The new register of names provides personal data and the place of residence of those affected, as well as details of which police stations and courts have dealt with the person. The numbers of the files are also listed, which show what the persons concerned are specifically accused of and which can be viewed in the National Archives.
