Nathan Nathans

Nathan Nathans (7 December 1883 – 28 July 1937) was a Dutch trade unionist and international labour leader, associated with the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and the .

Early life and career Nathans was born in Arnhem and moved to Rotterdam in his youth, where he began working for the Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij in 1900. The railway strikes of 1903 had a profound impact on him and led to his involvement in the labour movement, including clandestine activities for the railway workers’ union, where he became secretary of the Rotterdam section.

In 1910, Nathans was forced to choose between his job and his union activities. He chose to resign and subsequently became secretary of the railway workers’ union and editor of its publication, positions he held until 1922. His funeral was held in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, where around two thousand people gathered in a solemn memorial attended by representatives of international and Dutch labour organizations.