Johan van Hulst navigated a century of Dutch history, transitioning from a clandestine wartime resistance organizer in Amsterdam to a central figure in the Senate of the Netherlands. Throughout his long life, he balanced professional obligations as a university pedagogue with a persistent commitment to public service, eventually becoming the first former senator to reach the age of one hundred.
Wartime Resistance
In 1942, Van Hulst directed the Reformed Teacher Training College in Amsterdam, situated directly across from the Hollandsche Schouwburg, a theater utilized by Nazi authorities as a transit site for Jewish deportations. Leveraging a shared back garden with a local nursery, he collaborated with figures such as Henriëtte Pimentel and Walter Süskind to spirit hundreds of children to safety. Participants hid the children in baskets and laundry containers, timing their departure to coincide with passing trams to evade guard surveillance. While the operation saved many, it ceased in September 1943 following an escalation in Nazi enforcement.
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Take the IQ test →Political Career
Following the war, Van Hulst developed a significant political footprint, serving in the Senate of the Netherlands from 1956 until 1981. He represented the Christian Historical Union, leading the party in the Senate starting in 1968. He played a transitional role during the formation of the Christian Democratic Appeal, becoming its inaugural leader in the upper house. His international parliamentary work included serving as a member of the European Parliament and representing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Brussels and Strasbourg.
Academic and Personal Pursuits
Beyond his political duties, Van Hulst maintained a career as an educator and author, eventually serving as an emeritus professor of pedagogy at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He published over one hundred works throughout his academic life. In his later years, he became a noted chess player, winning the Corus Chess Tournament for former politicians in 2006 and 2010. Following his death in 2018, the city of Amsterdam dedicated bridge number 233, the Johan van Hulstbrug, to his legacy near his former college.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Amsterdam
- Died: 2018, Amsterdam
- Education: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Political Tenure: Senator (1956-1981)
- Righteous Among the Nations: 1972
- Award: Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Questions readers ask
How many Jewish children did Van Hulst help save?
He was instrumental in the rescue of between 500 and 1,000 children during his time as director of the teacher training college.
Was Van Hulst involved in European politics?
Yes, he served as a Member of the European Parliament between 1961 and 1968 and represented the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1977 to 1981.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1972
- Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
- Worked as university teacher, politician and chess player
- Educated at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
