Monument Waalsdorpervlakte, dune area Meijendel
Designer/artist: Firma M.M. Oosenbrug en Zonen (read more about M.M. Oosenbrug here)
Unveiled on May 3, 1946
The Waalsdorpervlakte, in the Meijendel dune area in Wassenaar, is one of the most important Dutch war memorials. During the Second World War, between 250 and 280 people were shot on the Waalsdorpervlakte by the German occupiers. In memory of these victims, a two-part monument can be found on the Waalsdorpervlakte: the monument and the bourdon bell.
The monument on the Waalsdorpervlakte has been expanded over the years. On 3 May 1946, a group of resistance friends placed 4 wooden execution crosses. In 1949, a concrete wall was added. On this simple wall is the text: “1940-1945.” A plaque was placed to the left of the wall in 1975 with the text:
Here many of our countrymen sacrificed their lives for your freedom. Enter this place with due respect.
The four wooden crosses were replaced by bronze replicas in 1980. The original crosses were transferred to the resistance museum in Leeuwarden. During the annual commemoration on 4 May, the Dutch flag is formed against the concrete wall. In the past, this was done with flowers, but nowadays painted pine cones are used.
There are two other crosses in the vicinity of the monument. The Rauter Cross marks the spot where 38 executions were carried out on 8 March 1945 as a reprisal for an attack on SS General Hanns Rauter. There is also a cross at the spot where most of the executions were carried out. These crosses were also replaced by bronze replicas in 1980.
The other part of the monument is the Bourdon bell. The bell was given to the municipality as a gift from the citizens on 30 April 1959. The War Memorial Foundation 1940-1945 was behind the arrival of this bell. A text by Prof. Mr. R.P. Cleveringa is placed on the edge of the bell:
I sing for the glory and following of those who gave their lives to prevent injustice, to win freedom and to preserve and advance all Dutch spiritual goods.
The names of the members of the foundation are engraved on the back of the bell. The chairman of the foundation was former Prime Minister Prof. Mr. P.S. Gerbrandy. The ringing of the bell plays an important part in the commemoration every year. The bells ring on 4 May from 19:15 until the moment when the last interested party has passed the monument. During the two minutes of silence the bells are silent.
The commemoration at the Waalsdorpervlakte was broadcast by NOS until 1986. Since 1995, the commemoration has been broadcast by RTL.
The Fusillades on the Waalsdorpervlakte
Near the Waalsdorpervlakte is the Scheveningen prison (Het Oranjehotel). During the Second World War, the prison was taken over by the Germans and used for interrogation, imprisonment and trial of Dutch resistance fighters. It is estimated that around 25,000 people from all over the country were imprisoned in Het Oranjehotel. The stay in the Scheveningen prison was often not long. People were released, sent to serve a prison sentence elsewhere or executed on the nearby Waalsdorpervlakte. The latter happened to 215 people sentenced to death from the Scheveningen prison.
Among the people who were shot at the Waalsdorpervlakte were members of the resistance groups De Geuzen, CPN, Het Parool and Vrij Nederland.
On 8 March 1945, 38 people were shot on the Waalsdorpervlakte as a reprisal for the failed attack on SS general Hanns Rauter. In the night of 6 to 7 March 1945, Rauter’s car was stopped by a resistance group at the Woeste Hoeve on the Veluwe. A shooting ensued, in which Rauter sustained serious injuries. In reprisal for this attack, prisoners were executed throughout the country on 8 March and 12 March. In total, almost 300 prisoners were shot as a result of this attack. The Rauter Cross was placed between the dunes especially for the 38 victims who died on the Waalsdorpervlakte.
After the war, important collaborators were shot on the Waalsdorpervlakte, such as SS general Rauter, Nazi propagandist Max Blokzijl and NSB leader Anton Mussert.
The Remembrance
Every year on May 4th, a large commemoration takes place at the monument on the Waalsdorpervlakte. The organization of this commemoration is in the hands of the Erepeloton Waalsdorp.
More information about the commemoration can be found at: www.erepeloton.nl
Images from previous commemorations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvP5evlGTYI (national commemoration 2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qBExI4Dir0 (national commemoration 1949)
Sources:
Boom, Bart van der. The Hague in the Second World War. The Hague: SeaPress, 1995.
www.erepeloton.nl
www.4en5mei.nl