Monument February Strike 1941 Hilversum

Where the NSF (Nederlandse Seintoestellenfabriek) used to stand, there is now a work of art commemorating this factory. A small column with a plaque was added to this artwork in 2021 to commemorate the February strike that began at this site in 1941 following a call from Amsterdam.

On 25 February 1941, when thousands of people had left work in Amsterdam to protest against the Germans' Anti-Jewish measures, the strike also spread to other places including Hilversum on the same day.

An appeal in some large companies of Philips (NSF) and Fokker to lay down work in protest was massively heeded. This found great following, and throughout Hilversum, work was halted in one factory after another.

The next day, thousands of people marched to De Groest in the centre of Hilversum to demonstrate against the German measures. Heavily armed SS troops had converged around the town hall, and despite no shooting, the demonstration was disbanded under that threat.

The German reaction was fierce. In retaliation, people ended up in concentration camps, the people of Hilversum had to pay a fine of 2.5 million guilders, the City Council was dissolved and the Police Commissioner and the College of B&W were dismissed.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Mischa Rus
• https://februaristaking.nl/februaristaking/de-staking-in-hilversum/