Through personal stories and primary sources, the Draw Me the History of the Jews in the Netherlands during the Holocaust pedagogical project invites students to analyze how the rights and freedoms of Jews were violated in the Netherlands during the 1940s.

This project guides students as they create a history-based graphic novel about the experiences of Jews in the Netherlands during the Holocaust that illustrates the impact of antisemitism and anti-Jewish measures on individuals. Students will analyze historical documents and practice using the historical method.

Download the Draw me the story of the Jews in the Netherlands during the Holocaust pedagogical guide

The Draw me the story of the Jews in the Netherlands during the Holocaust pedagogical activity is available online free of charge. Click on the download links at the bottom of this page for the activity that corresponds to your province’s curriculum.

Curriculum links

  • Social issues: Recognition of rights and freedoms
  • Other: Movement to deny the Jews of Europe their freedoms and civil rights
  • Cultural benchmark: Denial of rights and freedoms

Quebec teachers

A print version of this activity is available free of charge* for Quebec teachers by filling out the pre-reservation form. You will receive:

Amsterdam Jewish Quarter
1

Amsterdam Jewish Quarter

Photo of the secret underground
village of Nunspeet, where many
Jews, and Russian or English
soldiers hid.
2

Photo of the secret underground village of Nunspeet, where many Jews, and Russian or English soldiers hid.

Samuel Schryver and his fiancée
Jetty de Leeuw in Amsterdam’s
Jewish quarter in 1943. The yellow
star is visible on the young man’s
suit.
3

Samuel Schryver and his fiancée Jetty de Leeuw in Amsterdam’s Jewish quarter in 1943. The yellow star is visible on the young man’s suit.

Identity card of Samuel Schryver
4

Identity card of Samuel Schryver

Identity card of Samuel Schryver.
5

Identity card of Samuel Schryver.

Work permit of Ilse van Collem at
Westerbork, August 15, 1943.
6

Work permit of Ilse van Collem at Westerbork, August 15, 1943.

Identity card of Samuel Schryver
in Westerbork. The “S” indicates
that he was imprisoned for having
committed a crime (common law,
penal prisoner). Schryver was thus
identified because he resisted the
authorities.
7

Identity card of Samuel Schryver in Westerbork. The “S” indicates that he was imprisoned for having committed a crime (common law, penal prisoner). Schryver was thus identified because he resisted the authorities.

Work permit for Flora Pfeiffer to work
in the punishment blocks, dated
December 2, 1943. Jews capable of
work had a better chance of staying
alive.
8

Work permit for Flora Pfeiffer to work in the punishment blocks, dated December 2, 1943. Jews capable of work had a better chance of staying alive.

Form certifying that Fred Pfeiffer
is on the exemption list, dated
December 8, 1943. Certain Jews
could avoid deportation, if only for a
short time, if they were “part” Jewish,
had converted to Christianity, or held
an important function in society (e.g.
Jewish Council, wartime economy).
9

Form certifying that Fred Pfeiffer is on the exemption list, dated December 8, 1943. Certain Jews could avoid deportation, if only for a short time, if they were “part” Jewish, had converted to Christianity, or held an important function in society (e.g. Jewish Council, wartime economy).

Yellow star worn by Flora Pfeiffer in
Westerbork and Bergen-Belsen.
10

Yellow star worn by Flora Pfeiffer in Westerbork and Bergen-Belsen.

Sam Schryver posing under the
signs that indicate the boundaries
of the Jewish quarter. They read
“Jewish Canal”, a reference to the
geography of Amsterdam, traversed
by canals.
11

Sam Schryver posing under the signs that indicate the boundaries of the Jewish quarter. They read “Jewish Canal”, a reference to the geography of Amsterdam, traversed by canals.

Wedding of Salomon Schryver
and Flora Mendels in Amsterdam
in 1942.
12

Wedding of Salomon Schryver and Flora Mendels in Amsterdam in 1942.

Photo of Dutch Jews standing during
roll call at Buchenwald concentration
camp, February 28, 1941.
13

Photo of Dutch Jews standing during roll call at Buchenwald concentration camp, February 28, 1941.

Identity card and work permit of Ilse
van Collem issued by the Liberal
Jewish Congregation on May 26,
1942.
14

Identity card and work permit of Ilse van Collem issued by the Liberal Jewish Congregation on May 26, 1942.

Photo of the wedding of Herman
Leeuw and Annie Pais, with their
families present, 1942. Despite
everything, the Jews continued to
live as normally as possible.
15

Photo of the wedding of Herman Leeuw and Annie Pais, with their families present, 1942. Despite everything, the Jews continued to live as normally as possible.

Learn more about the history of the Holocaust

To learn more about the Holocaust and antisemitism, read the reference guides A Brief History of the Holocaust and A Brief History of Antisemitism in Canada. You can also consult the Testimony Analysis Sheet to help students learn about a survivor’s story.

Download the Educational Program

Secondary 1st Cycle - History and Citizenship Education

Reserve an Activity

Help us develop relevant resources by filling out the following form.

Nous traitons vos informations de manière confidentielle et elles ne seront pas données ou vendues à de tierce parties.