Merwedeplein

As part of the construction of Plan-Zuid (South Plan), the Amsterdam city council took the decision on 16 February 1927 to name the square, bordered by Waalstraat, Jekerstraat and Roerstraat, Merwedeplein.^[1] The square has become well known because of the home of Otto Frank and his family, located at number 37 II.^[2] They lived there from 1933 until they went into hiding in July 1942. But they were not the only Jewish families on this square and in this neighbourhood. In addition to the many Dutch Jewish families, many foreign Jews lived on this square, many of them German Jewish refugees.^[3] The half-Jewish son of the famous German comedian Rudolf Nelson lived at number 23. And at number 59 II lived Michel Velleman with his family. Velleman, better known by the stage name Ben Ali Libi, was a Dutch magician and illusionist. The family of Anne Frank's friend Hanneli Goslar moved into an apartment on Merwedeplein in February 1933 and Fritzi Markovits, Otto Frank's second wife, also lived on Merwedeplein before the war with her then husband Erich Geiringer, son Heinz and daughter Eva.^[4]

Anne Frank referred to the square twice in her diary as 'the Merry'.^[5] Daily life in her old neighbourhood provided many memories. She missed the old life on Merwedeplein for all kinds of reasons, but also because of the comfort: she preferred central heating to smoky stoves.^[6]