The "Geuzen" monument.

Geuzen is name of a Dutch Resistance Group named after the rebels against the Spanish occupation of the Lowlands in the 16th century. The Geuzen monument has been made in 1983 by Leen Droppert and has been made out of bricks, bronze, natural rock and pavement bricks. The monument has been made to memorize the Geuzen resistance group. In 1981 a committee was established with the purpose to collect money in order to erect this monument. On March 12th 1983, the monument was revealed by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix. You will find it on the Markt in Vlaardingen.

The monument depicts a human figure: determined, doubtful and insecure. The fact that the monument depicts a walking figure means that his mission is to pass on his message into the future. He is not allowed to stand still. One hand is raised which is a warning, with the other arm he protects his own body and with the clenched fist he tries to defend himself against an enemy. The low wall in a circular form makes all this very clear again, on the plaque you will find the text: "Resistance against the enemy happens always at the right time". There is a road crossing made of black stripes from the statue to the former Police Headquarters at the marketplace. That is where the Geuzen were taken after having been captured by the Germans. The stripes consist of eighteen threatening black rays, exactly the number of the executed resistance fighters at the Waalsdorpervlakte, after the trial early 1941. At the road crossing 2 chopped off feet are positioned, depicting the sudden ending of the lives of these 18 heroes of the resistance.
Fifteen of the eightteen deaths were members of the Geuzen-group. The other three were strikers from the February-strike.
Three members of the Geuzen-group were younger than 20 and not sentenced to death.

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Source

• Text: Pieter Schlebaum
• Photos: Peter Schipper (1), Joshua Slavenburg (2, 3, 4, 5)