Gerrit Bolkestein

Gerrit Bolkestein was Minister of Education in the Dutch government in exile in London. He became Minister of Education in the De Geer Cabinet in 1939 and remained so until 1945. He went to London in May of 1940. In 1943, he called on Dutch students not to sign the declaration of loyalty.^[1]

On 28 March 1944, he announced via Radio Oranje that a collection of diaries and other personal documents from the period of occupation would be established after the war. He said: "If posterity is to fully appreciate what we as a people have endured and overcome in these years, then we need just the simple items: a diary, letters from a worker in Germany, [...] speeches from a minister."^[2] Anne heard this broadcast, and got the idea to write a novel about her experiences in hiding.^[3] Otto Frank reminded Bolkestein of his appeal in a letter on 6 February 1946 and asked for an interview. Bolkestein referred him two days later to the (then) RIOD.^[4] In June 1947, Otto Frank sent Bolkestein a copy of The Secret Annex, saying that the minister was mentioned in the note of 29 March 1944. Bolkestein wrote a thank-you note on 30 June 1947.^[4]

Addresses: Amstelkade 169 huis, Amsterdam (’37); Groenhovenstraat 32, The Hague (’39).^[5]