How fraught the reputation of streetcar 8 still is became clear in 1997. The Municipal Transport Company (GVB) decided to run a circlet streetcar in Amsterdam for tourists (gone by 2002). Given the shape of the route, the number 8 with its two loops seemed appropriate. That streetcar number was free, so the choice was quickly made. But as soon as it became known that another streetcar 8 was going to run through Amsterdam, the angry letters came. The tenor: Didn't the ladies and gentlemen of GVB have any sense of history; Didn't they know that streetcar 8 had been used to deport Jews during the war?

'Jew streetcar'

The emphasis on the one streetcar line is kind of understandable. Line 8 had come into existence in 1905 thanks to Jewish City Council member Henri Polak, and was soon nicknamed the 'Jew Tram' because so many Jews used it. No wonder, since the route ran right through the Jewish quarter: from Central Station along Waterlooplein to Weesperzijde. In the 1920s and 1930s, the line was extended in stages to the Rivierenbuurt, ending at Westerscheldeplein (now Europaplein). Many Jews also worked and lived in this neighborhood. For example, the streetcar stopped in Van Woustraat near Asscher's large diamond-cutting factory, where many Jews worked. On Sunday mornings, streetcar 8 was the busiest in the city. Then there was a market on Uilenburg, in the Jewish quarter around Waterlooplein. Other Amsterdam streetcars were quiet, but line 8 ran extra cars on Sunday mornings.

For the first years of the war, the streetcar still ran its route as usual. But from June 30, 1942, Jews were no longer allowed to travel by public transport. Streetcar 8 lost more than half its passengers in one fell swoop. From an average of 30,000 passengers, it dropped to 14,000 per day. At the same time, there was a shortage of transport personnel due to the Arbeitseinsatz, forced labor in Germany. So it was that line 8 was disbanded on July 9, 1942, due to a cynical combination of lack of personnel and lack of passengers, both at the hands of the Nazis. The streetcar cars were transferred to line 23. A week later, large-scale night deportations of Jews began. Across the route of the just disbanded streetcar 8, as well as the routes of lines 7, 9, 16 and 24.

Line 4

Since 1948, line 4 has run on the former route of line 8 through the Rivierenbuurt. So should the other four "guilty" streetcar lines also be renumbered? That is not necessary, it seems to me. Line 8 suffices: one vanished streetcar, which continues to remind us of the many tens of thousands of Jews who disappeared from Amsterdam during World War II.

It was a nice gesture by the CFPB, but that also put many people on the wrong track. All the attention paid to line 8 makes it seem as if only one streetcar line was "at fault" during the war. In reality, streetcar cars from different lines were used in the deportations of the Jews from Amsterdam, on different routes. That was more efficient. Probably no streetcar with the number 8 ever deported Jews. However, streetcar number 8 was one of the official deportation routes.

The occupiers used no less than four streetcar routes to deport Jews: from the Daniël Willinkplein (now Victorieplein) via the former line 8, from the Gaffelstraat in the Watergraafsmeer via line 9, from the Valeriusplein (line 16) and from the Olympiaplein (line 24). In 1943, most deportations went through the Hollandsche Schouwburg on Plantage Middenlaan. Streetcar cars from line 7 were also used for this purpose.

So if there is such a thing as 'guilty streetcar lines', there are actually five in Amsterdam: numbers 7, 8, 9, 16 and 24. So why is only streetcar 8 taboo? The other four numbers are still in full use and there are no complaints about them. In a way, the Amsterdam Museum keeps the story alive by showing only the sign for streetcar 8 in the Panorama Amsterdam exhibition. The other four lines remain out of the picture when it comes to the deportation of Amsterdam's Jews.

'Jew streetcar'

The emphasis on the one streetcar line is kind of understandable. Line 8 had come into existence in 1905 thanks to Jewish City Council member Henri Polak, and was soon nicknamed the 'Jew Tram' because so many Jews used it. No wonder, since the route ran right through the Jewish quarter: from Central Station along Waterlooplein to Weesperzijde. In the 1920s and 1930s, the line was extended in stages to the Rivierenbuurt, ending at Westerscheldeplein (now Europaplein). Many Jews also worked and lived in this neighborhood. For example, the streetcar stopped in Van Woustraat near Asscher's large diamond-cutting factory, where many Jews worked. On Sunday mornings, streetcar 8 was the busiest in the city. Then there was a market on Uilenburg, in the Jewish quarter around Waterlooplein. Other Amsterdam streetcars were quiet, but line 8 ran extra cars on Sunday mornings.

For the first years of the war, the streetcar continued to run its route as usual. But from June 30, 1942, Jews were no longer allowed to travel by public transport. Streetcar 8 lost more than half its passengers in one fell swoop. From an average of 30,000 passengers, it dropped to 14,000 per day. At the same time, there was a shortage of transport personnel due to the Arbeitseinsatz, forced labor in Germany. So it was that Line 8 was disbanded on July 9, 1942, due to a cynical combination of lack of personnel and lack of passengers, both at the hands of the Nazis. The streetcar cars were transferred to line 23. A week later, large-scale night deportations of Jews began. Over the route of the just disbanded streetcar 8, but also over the routes of lines 7, 9, 16 and 24.Line 4Since 1948, line 4 has been running on the former route of line 8 through the Rivierenbuurt. So should the other four "guilty" streetcar lines also be renumbered? That is not necessary, it seems to me. Line 8 will suffice: one vanished streetcar, which continues to remind us of the many tens of thousands of Jews who disappeared from Amsterdam during World War II.

In late 2010, the Amsterdam Museum added the historic streetcar sign of line 8 to its collection. It is on display in Panorama Amsterdam.