Vera van Essen (image cut out from photo taken at a secondary modern, 1941) Photo collection Van Eden-van Manen, Veenendaal, Photo collection Van Eden-van Manen, Veenendaal
Leenhart (Leendert) Hermann van Essen opened a law practice in Veenendaal after studying law in Amsterdam. His shock of red hair led him to be nicknamed 'Red Jew'. He married Rachel Julia Lopes de Leao Laguna from Amsterdam. Rumour had it that he had fetched a rich Jewish woman from Portugal. He and…