ABSTRACT
In 1916 the Socialist trade union leader Isaäc Goudsmit asked to be present at the founding meeting of a local branch of the Dutch Roman Catholic Union of Bakers and Workers in the Cacao, Chocolate and Sugar Industry. His request was refused, because it was said about him: “[…] aan ’s mans neus kunt gij zien, dat hij niet van ’t houtje is” (Looking at his nose will tell you he is not a Roman Catholic). 1 This reference to a person’s Jewishness, of which the shape of his nose was said to bear witness, was typical of negative attitudes towards Jews in the general Dutch population. These attitudes developed over time, sometimes quickly and notably so during the 1930s when they once again made Jews stand out.
