Dutchman Jacob Willemstein began his march on April 1 in Oświęcim. He is marching to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and protest against Holocaust denial, namely referring to concentration camps as “Polish” extermination camps. “Antisemitism has recently returned as a problem in the Netherlands. Young people believe that the Holocaust never happened,” Jacob points out. “It has already reached the point where students at schools prevent teachers from teaching about the Holocaust. They threaten them with death. Some young Muslims beat children wearing yarmulkes and spit on them.”
Jacob says that some time ago a meeting of representatives of various religions took place in Amsterdam. The clergy walked together through the city streets. They talked about tolerance and understanding between faiths. Suddenly, a boy ran up to a rabbi and struck him in front of the cameras. “Our government did nothing about it,” says the Dutchman.
“I love Jews; I have been to Israel many times,” the 47-year-old says. “Jesus was also Jewish. Why should we hate this nation if the son of our God came from it? It is stupid.”
When he set out on his journey, his friends tapped their foreheads, implying he was crazy. “They told me: you are crazy,” the Dutchman says with a smile. “Now the media are interested in my march. Every day I talk to my wife by phone. She writes down my impressions and publishes them on the website. At this point, 10,000 people are following my activities.”
As he emphasizes, the march gives him a chance to convey the truth about the Holocaust to his fellow countrymen. When he returns to his homeland—the journey is to last two months—he intends to organize a series of meetings at schools. He wants to tell young Dutch people about what he saw and experienced. He also plans to publish a book. “Intolerance is dangerous,” he points out. “History must not repeat itself.”
The Student Council of Wrocław University of Science and Technology, headed by Bolesławiec native Mateusz Celmer, assumed patronage of Jacob Willemstein’s march. On April 15, the Dutchman stayed with Mateusz’s parents. “Many students of different nationalities and faiths study at our university, so promoting tolerance is very important to us,” says the head of the PWr Student Council.
(information: GA)