Goldpool

Portioning of World War II assets.

During World War II large amounts of gold have been seized by nazi Germany. A considerable part of this gold was recovered after the war by the Allies. Recently the fourth (and also last) portion of this gold came back to the Netherlands. The Dutch government decided to spend the proceeds of this portion, approximately 9.1 million Euro, on projects aimed at the Jewish community in the Netherlands and at other groups of persecuted in the Netherlands, like gypsies, homosexuals and Jehova's Witnesses.

The Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS) is entrusted with the portioning of 9.1 million Euro for projects with regard to victims (residing in the Netherlands) of the nazi persecution, which was aimed at annihilation.

Projects granted have to meet the following demands:
• render services, in the broadest sense of the word, to victims of the nazi persecution residing in the Netherlands and to their surviving relatives. The Ministry especially considers projects which aim at supporting survivors to come to terms with the after-effects of the persecution;
• breathing new life into the traditions of the persecuted regarding learnings and culture;
• keep the memory alive of those who were killed during World War II and warn for the ideology behind it.

On 31 August 1998 the minister of Public Health, Welfare and Sports appointed an advisory committee, which reviewed the submitted project proposals and subsequently reported to the minister in spring 1999. Based on this report the minister decided which projects were eligible for financial support.

Press Release
nummer 76 Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS)
Monday 31 August 1998.

Minister Borst appoints advisory committee Expenditure Nazi Germany Gold

Minister dr. E. Borst-Eilers of Public Health, Welfare and Sports today appointed the Advisory Committee Expenditure Fourth Portion. The main task of this committee is to advise the minister about the division of approximately 9.1 million Euro of gold that was confiscated by nazi Germany during World War II and later retrieved.
Chairman of the advisory committee is dr. D. Dolman, member of the Council of State.

In April 1998 the Cabinet decided to reserve this money for victims residing in the Netherlands who were persecuted by the nazi's with the aim to annihilate. The money comes from the so called Gold Pool of the Tripartite Gold Committee. This committee, which was established shortly after the war, is responsible for the gold stolen by nazi Germany all over Europe and which was reconfiscated after the war by the Allies. Three times before gold was given back to the Netherlands. On those occasions the proceeds went to the treasury.

The project proposals have to aim at rendering services to the victims of the nazi persecution, initiatives to breath new life into traditions regarding learnings and culture or keep the memory alive of those who were killed during World War II.

The members of the Advisory Committee Expenditure Fourth Portion are: • Mr. dr. D. Dolman, member of the Council of State, former chairman of the parliament of the Netherlands;
• Mr. prof. dr. C.L. Davidson, chairman of the board of the New Israelite Journal and former chairman of the Alliance of Liberal Religious Jews in the Netherlands;
• Mr. mr. F. Ensel, district manager ABN-AMRO Bank, member of the board of the Dutch Israelite Religious Community and former chairman of the board of the Jewish Social Service Foundation;
• Mr. drs. E. van Thijn, former mayor of the Municipality of Amsterdam, former Home Affairs minister;
• Mrs. G.H. Wertheim-Cahen, creative therapist, specialised in the treatment of war victims;
• Mrs. mr. A.C.M. Proost, secretary and project leader World War II Assets. Directorate Resistance Members, Persecuted and Civilian War Victims, Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports;
• Mr. mr. B. Bijl, secretary. Project staff member World War II Assets. Directorate Resistance Members, Persecuted and Civilian War Victims, Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports.

The 'Final report Adviescollege besteding vierde tranche' can be viewed (only in Dutch) here with Adobe Acrobat Reader.