Stone Tablet Farmyard Veldweg

The monument on the Veldweg reminds the inhabitants of Rinsumageest of the firefight on April 15, 1945 between the N.B.S. and the Canadians on the one hand and the German Wehrmacht on the other. A farm has gone up in flames.

On Sunday, April 15, 1945, the last group of the German Wehrmacht from Dokkum was killed by the N.B.S. and attacked the Canadians. A German officer and a Dutch NSKK man fled in the direction of Rinsumageest. On the Achterweg in Akkerwoude they got into a firefight with Harm Brouwer and Jan Kaper, two resistance members who were shot on the spot. The soldiers then entrenched themselves in the farm of the Cologne family on the Veldweg between Rinsumageest and Oudkerk.

When it turned out that it was for the N.B.S. it was not possible to get the occupier out of the farm, the help of the Canadians from Dokkum was called in. The unit that was quickly on the scene set fire to the farm and liquidated the NSKK man. The German officer and the entire herd perished in the conflagration. The Cologne family was also still present in the farm when the fire started. Mother Cologne fled the farm with her children and took cover in the ditch embankment. Father Cologne tried to save the German officer, who was hidden in the hay compartment. When this had no effect, he went outside with his hands behind his neck and went to safety.

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