Niek Engelschman
hij/hem1913 – 1988
In 1946, World War II resistance fighter Niek Engelschman founded the COC, the world’s oldest still-operating organization for the rainbow community. He sought to unify the community and promote a dialogue in society about sexual diversity.
Photo credits
“Nico Engelschman”
Year: c. 1930s
Collection: Public domain
Photographer: Unknown
“(Outgoing) COC chairman N. Engelschman (l) receives a Royal decoration from minister Brinkman on the occasion of the COC’s 40th anniversary”
Year: 1986.
Collection: Anefo, National Archives.
Photographer: Rob C. Croes
In 1946, World War II resistance fighter Niek Engelschman founded the COC, the world’s oldest still-operating organization for the rainbow community. He sought to unify the community and promote a dialogue in society about sexual diversity.
Biography
Literature and sources
Korte film over de beginperiode van het COC. In dit teken. Regie: Jan Lemstra en Piet Henneman, 1949.
‘Oprichter en erevoorzitter COC overleden: persoonlijke ontmoeting met Niek,’ Henri Methorst. Sek (12), 1998: p. 4.
Levensvreugd door levensrecht : de beginjaren van de Nederlandse Vereniging tot Integratie van Homoseksualiteit COC, 1946-1961. Hans Warmerdam ; begel. : D.F.J. Bosscher. Groningen : RUG, 1985.
‘De veertien grootste Amsterdammers,’ Marcel Wiegman. Parool, 2025.
Tijdschrift Vriendschap, 1949 – 1953.
Website Bob Angelo Fonds.