Johan Voskuijl

Johan Voskuijl was the father of Bep Voskuijl, one of the helpers of the people in hiding in the Secret Annex.^[1] He was born on 15 January 1892 in the parental home at Groote Kattenburgerstraat 122 in Amsterdam^[2] as the third of seven children of Johannes Hendrik Voskuijl and Elisabeth Hoenson.^[3] His brothers and sister were: Wilhelmina, Johanna Hendrika, Neeltje, Elisabeth, Hendrik Johannes and Wilhelm.^[4] Johan Voskuijl's father worked as a carpenter and dock worker.^[4]

Voskuijl worked from 1908 as a correspondent for Houthandel en Meubelindustrie v/h Van Griethuijsen & Koch, but was dismissed in 1917 due to a reorganisation. He later worked at the Dutch branch office of the Voss & Sasse furniture factory. Through his daughter Bep he became warehouse manager of the companies at Prinsengracht 263. In August 1942, at Kugler's initiative, he made the bookcase for the rear entrance. On 29 September 1942 he visited the Secret Annex on the occasion of Auguste van Pels' birthday.^[5]

Johan Voskuijl received long-term treatment for stomach complaints. First, Anne wrote that he probably had a stomach ulcer for which he spent time in the Binnengasthuis hospital.^[6] A few months later, she wrote that during an operation the doctors diagnosed untreatable stomach cancer.^[7] After he left the company, according to Anne, he occasionally visited the Secret Annex, but was burdened by his poor prospects.^[8] In the end, he lived for another two years.

In the spring of 1943, the eight people in hiding discussed what they would do first when they were able to go outside again: Otto Frank then said that the first thing he wanted to do was visit Voskuijl.^[9]