"Beth Sjalom" Amsterdam

drawings by

Anton

Witsel

one world - one human race!

peace by freedom and justice for all!

one must remember the words, not

the monuments, monuments for peace

are also monuments for political

quarrels and military parades!

A permanent exhibition of drawings of the former Jewish

Quarter in Amsterdam, before, during and after the Second

World War.

Drawings of the Anne Frank house before it’s

restoration.

 
Anton Witsel, born in Amsterdam in 1911, sold already news-

papers when fourteen and later sailed as a trimmer. During the

years of economical crisis he took every opportunity to work.

In his free hours he drew people's joy and sadness.

 
Although being a non-Jew, he refused to sign the Aryan Decla-

ration during the German occupation of the Netherlands from

1940-1945.

The applied art shop, depending on waste products of sawing-

mills had to be closed down and like so many people in those

days, he had to live from hand to mouth.

 
Because of his attitude and sincerity and his willingness to sof-

ten his fellow-man's suffering he gained the confidence of the

Amsterdam Jews. He became the artist of the Jewish clandesti-

ne church in Nieuwe Keizersgracht where he lived. The Jewish

relic, the "Thora" (the five books of Moses) was committed to

his charge when raids were held.

 
In 1958 he saved the Anne Frank House from demolition and la-

ter, with permission of the "Texel “company, he carried on a

campaign for the preservation of the premises from the Anne

Frank House down to Westermarkt 16 with the slogan: "Not

Because of Yesterday, but for Tomorrow"-"International

Youth Centre".

 
In these demolished premises he held his exhibition : One World -

One Human Race".

This initiative, in the days of limitation of expenditure, brought

in f 400.000,- for the Amsterdam Municipality for the

purchase of this premises, which have now become "Studenten-

huis Westermarkt".

 
Upon the invitation of the West-Berlin Municipality he exhibi-

ted in Berlin-Reinickendorf, Schöneberg and Charlottenburg

from October 1960 until March 1961.

 
As a guest of the Norwegian Government he exhibited in 1966

in Oslo.

 
In July 1966 the Television of Czecho-Slowakia shot a scene

of the exhibition in his studio.

Several radio and television have been broadcasted in the

Netherlands.
 
In November 1967 he became a honorary member of the Free

University in Amsterdam of the dispute Olympos.

 
In May 1970 the exhibition was broadcasted on Dutch television,

especially the Jewish clandestine church during the Second

World War.

 
Many appreciative write-ups about Anton Witsel appeared in

the world press (cuttings available for perusal).