Memorial Jan Tol Volendam

This Memorial, a Plaque, commemorates the residents of Volendam to Jan Tol, who was shot on this location on 10-08-1941 in the Second World War.

Jan Tol "Bolletje" 1906 - 1941
Appeal to the mounted corps of the Marechaussee just before the war. He was awaiting promotion to adjutant. After the surrender of the Netherlands, the corps was disbanded and he was at home. He received redundancy pay, but had no prospects. Jan was unable to cope with the capitulation and occupation. He had plans to flee to England. However, he could not leave his children (Kees, Ton and Jaap) and wife Sjaantje Hunnego behind.
In the week of 11 August, the family was in Volendam for a few days for a family reunion. In Volendam he was told that a week before, Volendam had been punished after a small uprising against the Victorieplakkers from Monnickendam. The person who was found from the track, even in their own backyard or in front of an open window, was arrested. As a punishment people had to stand against the wall in Hotel Spaander, usually with something heavy in their hands.
On Sunday 10 August, Jan Tol was playing billiards with agent Siem Beemsterboer, former corporal at the military police) in Hotel Spaander, where the soldiers were also who had to check compliance with the curfew in the evening. There was also billiards with the soldiers and talked with the occasional drink. By eight everyone was warned to go home. But despite the warnings from the soldiers, from his friend Siem and his sister Jannetje (who works in the hotel), Jan lingered there.
In the end, Jan did decide to go to the hotel just before time to go to his lodging address. Not much later, the soldiers in the hotel saw a man standing in front of the windows who waved defiantly, made long noses and made funny faces. Four Germans have gone after him. A wild chase arose on the Maze, with Jan Bolletje, born and raised there, using the many alleys, outdoor toilets and coal sheds, until he was fatally hit twenty meters from the parental home. It was only at the inspection that the German soldiers saw who they had shot. A few days later, a number of soldiers, including the gunman, went on a condolence visit. They told of the misunderstanding and expressed their regret. Jan Tol's mother, Ant Mol is said to have said: "Oh, if it hadn't happened to him now, it would have happened later: he couldn't stomach the defeat and the occupation."

Shortly after these events, the curfew was lifted. However, the death of Jan Tol had its effect on the population. Hein Schilder (founder of the now well-known construction company HSB) decided, just like 17-year-old Nel Visser, to join the resistance. Hein eventually became commander of the 25-member Knokploeg Volendam. Nel Visser became a courier for the same Knokploeg. Curfew was reinstated by the Germans in 1943.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Paul Abspoel
• KONING, P. & KONING, E., Wereldoorlog in het dorp Volendam 1939-1945, Stichting Vrienden van het Volendams Museum, Volendam, 2010.