In 1935 “Camp de Beetse” was set up in the village Sellingerbeetse. This was a relief work camp where unemployed from all over the Netherlands had to use a shovel to cultivate heathlands against a mere pittance. In January 1942, 400 Jewish men arrived from Amsterdam. They had to work as farm laborers, but still had a reasonable degree of freedom and were treated fairly correctly. On 2 October 1942 the camp was surrounded by German soldiers and all inhabitants had to go on foot to the station in Stadskanaal. From there they went via Westerbork to Auschwitz where most Jews were killed.