Jewish Labour Village - Slootdorp

The Jewish Labour Village was once a place full of life and hope. In the 1930s Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria seemed welcome nowhere anymore. The Dutch government leased 52 hectare of polder land to the Jewish Labour Foundation, which carried out the labour village. Here, in the middle of the Wieringermeer, they found shelter and breathing space. The labour village offered education and gave tools to build a new existence elsewhere.

In 1934 the labour village opened its doors, then still with barracks that were earlier used for the construction of the Wieringermeer polder. Young men and women got the chance to prepare for emigration, often to Palestine. Boys were trained to become farmers, carpenters or blacksmiths, and girls received household lessons. Everyone learned the language, the customs and the history of the promised land. Four years later the labour village got its definitive form, with a central brick main building, the community house (which can still be seen now), and sixteen wooden residential barracks.

On 20 March 1941 the Jewish Labour Village was raided by German troops. Most of the residents were deported to concentration camps and never returned. A memory of hope became from that day also a story of loss.

Today the main building is a national monument. Within the walls cultural and educational activities are organised, so that the history of the labour village continues to be commemorated, told and passed on.