LE WEB DES JUIFS TUNISIENS

Start disbursement of Jewish Assets in the Netherlands

Jews who resided in the Netherlands, during (a part of) World War II, may claim compensation for the plundering of their possessions during World War II and the shortcomings of subsequent legal rehabilitation. Their possible children and partners may file a request provided that the person immediately concerned himself/herself died after 8 May 1945.

The arrangement is the result of the negotiations made by the Centraal Joods Overleg / Platform Israel with the Dutch financial sector (banks, insurers, Stock Exchange) and the Dutch Government regarding the return of Jewish assets and the incomplete legal rehabilitation after the war.

The majority of the funds which the Jewish organisations obtained in this way will now be reimbursed in equal portions to the survivors of the holocaust in the Netherlands, or, if they are no longer alive, to their possible children and/or partner (substitute). It concerns an amount of NLG 525,600,000. Another part of the funds is intended for Jewish mutual purposes and documented Jewish claims.

Centraal Joods Overleg / Platform Israël have mutually established the Maror foundations in order to take care of the arrangement. 'Maror' is an acronym (in Dutch) for 'moral liability for plunder and legal rehabilitation'. In Hebrew 'maror' means 'bitter herb'. On Monday 4 December, the chairman of the Foundation for Governmental Maror Funds, mr. Rob van der Heijden, started the campaign for the individual payments.

The foundations expect to pay an estimated number of 36,500 portions to the interested parties or (if the interested person has died) to their substitutes. The first payment will amount to NLG 14,000 (US $ 5600). After two years, a second round of payments may take place. The interested persons and their replacements may claim their share by means of an application form. The form may be obtained via the website www.joodsetegoeden.nl, via the return slips in advertisements in the press or via the free phone number +800 MAROR 123 (+800 62767123).

The majority of the requests is expected to be from the Netherlands yet there are also thousands of potential claimants living abroad. Many Dutch Jews moved to the United States. Advertisements will be placed in the international press.

More detailed information may be supplied by the Maror Desk Netherlands, Hans Dona and Esther Koedam, telephone 31-70 3461374.

Your request for forms may be sent to: www.joodsetegoeden.nl.

or telephone number +800 62767123.