Poverty and support Great Depression in the Netherlands

a line of unemployed people in amsterdam, 1933.

until 1931 social consequences of economic crisis had been limited; decreasing work hours , wages mass unemployment had far been avoided in sectors. however, around 1931 mass unemployment did start , workers keep jobs had accept significant wage cuts. rough estimates of unemployment show surge between 1930 , 1932, , steady increase end of 1936. not every sector of economy suffered equally; while shipping , trading sectors hit hard, specialised sectors such tobacco industry survived first stage of depression relatively unharmed.

at start of depression employed workers still saw wage cuts matched strong decreases of price of consumption articles. after first years of depression suffered decrease in real income. increasing numbers of unemployed situation worse. 1930s dutch society did not have experience , infrastructure needed deal mass unemployment. in large parts of society felt unemployed people should above stimulated find work, income support @ subsistence level should given. though finding work had become impossible large numbers of people, social sentiments towards unemployed changed slowly.

labour unions had funds temporary income support newly unemployed workers, government added subsidy. union members spared real poverty limited period. in later stages of depression these union funds became depleted while government reduced subsidy, forcing unions steadily decrease time period , amount of support. non-unionised workers , workers union support period had run out depended on government poverty fund, supported them subsistence level. minimal income support came heavy social stigma, reflected values of contemporary society. support receivers had report @ government agency twice day, waiting in endless lines of unemployed became symbol of depression. had allow government inspectors visit them @ home , investigate daily life, became hated practice among unemployed.

social stigmatisation took form of recognisable signs, such red coloured subsidised clothing , painful sign person exempt bicycle taxation (to worn on bicycle or on one’s clothing).

in addition scarce government aid there private initiatives support poor. important of these organisations nationaal crisis comité (national crisis committee), established princess juliana in 1931. because of limited scale of organisation unable structurally improve situation.