Memorial stone Prinsenhof 14

Here lived:

Jan Buitenwerf,
Fallen near Overschie on 14-5-1940
He was only 24 years old.

After primary school, Jan went to work at the farmer at the age of about 14, just like his father. First in Roodeschool, later at Onderdendam. He became a member of the Roodeschoolster music association David. On August 15, 1933, a month before he turned 18, Jan joined the voluntary Landstorm Corps, a kind of reserve army. At the age of 20 he had to fulfill his military service. He joined the 12th Infantry Regiment. This was the so-called Groningen regiment.

Jan started dating Sjoukelina (Lina) Brontsema from Oudeschip. In the spring of 1940, Jan and Lina registered their intention to marry, the wedding date was set on June 4, 1940 and a house was already being prepared. But things turned out differently. Because the Netherlands mobilized and Jan had to go to the barracks in Haarlem, leave was scarce, but on Saturday 4 May he was still at home in Roodeschool. (Wiert: Ripperdakazrne)

From Haarlem the 12th regiment was deployed in the defense of the airfields around Rotterdam and The Hague. This regiment fought at Delft and Overschie. Jan was killed in action in Overschie on 14 May while he was advancing with his regiment from Delft along the highway in Overschie in the direction of Rotterdam to defend Zestienhoven airfield. They were fired on from a biscuit factory near the Schie, probably by members of the N.S.B. This may have taken place after the bombing of Rotterdam in the afternoon of 14 May. After the capitulation of the Netherlands on 15 May, the fallen were buried in Delft. At the cemetery Jaffa in Delft is a monument in memory of the 67 who fell in the area.


The family decided to have the remains come to Roodeschool. The (re)burial took place in Oosteinde on June 29 in the evening at 7 p.m. Mayor Brons and Reformed pastor Rev. Schelhaas spoke. In the council meeting on August 20, Jan was commemorated together with Barteld Kooi. Later in the year, the entire village contributed to a funerary monument that was placed at the end of 1940. The stone reads "Fallen for his Fatherland". The name Jan Buitenwerf is included on the monument in Uithuizermeeden that first stood at the town hall on the Hoofdstraat and was later relocated to the Lijnbaan/Vlasakker.

On October 2, 2019, a memorial stone was laid at his former parental home at Prinsenhof 14 in Roodeschool.

The above story was created on the basis of data provided by Janny Borchers-Buitenwerf. She was the daughter of Jan Buitenwerf and Sjoukelina Brontsema. Janny passed away in 2018.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Wiert van der Veen
• Photos: Bert Deelman