Educational purpose only. This post documents historical events related to World War II and condemns the Nazi regime, war crimes, and all totalitarian ideologies. We do not glorify violence or hate.
Dries Riphagen was one of the most notorious collaborators in the Netherlands under German occupation – a criminal whose activities during World War II left a lasting stain on Dutch history.
Nicknamed the “Al Capone of the Netherlands” for his connections to organized crime and lavish lifestyle, Riphagen exploited the chaos of war to build a massive fortune while working closely with the Nazi authorities.
1. From Amsterdam’s Underworld to Nazi Collaboration
Born in Amsterdam in 1909, Riphagen spent his early years in a difficult family environment before becoming involved in criminal networks. By the time Germany occupied the Netherlands in May 1940, he was already well-acquainted with the underworld.
The occupation brought new opportunities. Riphagen quickly established relationships with the SD, the intelligence agency of the SS and the Nazi Party. As anti-Jewish measures intensified, he played a role in locating hidden valuables, tracking down those in hiding, and helping the occupation authorities enforce their policies.
Over time, he amassed significant wealth while expanding his influence in both criminal and collaborationist circles.
2. The Henneicke Column and the Hunt for Jews
Riphagen was associated with the Henneicke Column, a group of Dutch collaborators who hunted down Jews in hiding for the Nazis. They were paid a bounty for each Jew they captured.
Riphagen used his knowledge of Amsterdam’s underworld to locate hiding places, extort money from Jewish families, and turn them over to the Gestapo. His network of informants and criminals made him one of the most effective – and ruthless – hunters of Jews in the Netherlands.
3. The Post-War Escape
After the war, Riphagen was arrested by Dutch authorities. However, his treatment by officials became highly controversial. He was released under suspicious circumstances, allegedly in exchange for information.
In a dramatic escape, Riphagen fled across Europe and eventually reached Argentina, where influential contacts helped him avoid prosecution. He never faced justice for his wartime crimes.
4. A Symbol of Betrayal
Riphagen’s story remains a symbol of betrayal, collaboration, and the failure of post-war justice. He profited from the occupation, evaded accountability for decades, and died in Argentina in 1973, never having been held responsible for his actions.
His life is a chilling reminder of how greed and opportunism could thrive under Nazi occupation – and how some perpetrators managed to escape justice entirely.
Primary Sources:
Dutch National Archives – Collaboration and war crimes records
Historical studies of the Henneicke Column and Dutch collaborators
Testimonies of survivors and witnesses
Wikipedia – Dries Riphagen / Henneicke Column / Dutch collaborators