Bust Taeke Schuilenga

The bust is a tribute to Taeke Schuilenga resident of Surhuisterveen.
Taeke Schuilenga was born on October 29, 1878 in Surhuisterveen. He was co-founder of the Spaar- en Voorschotbank and director of the local biscuit factory.
The bust was offered by the staff of the Rusk factory.

That morning, at the end of October 1943, the son of Pier Nobach, a fanatical NSB member, is shot dead in a foggy meadow during milking. During the war years, Schuilenga was a household name in the Frisian Surhuisterveen and the surrounding area. The rusk, biscuit and confectionery factory that Taeke has built is located in the village. Taeke Schuilenga was a bit of a rebellious type.
He has other positions, including at the Association of Bakers, at Local Interest and at the Cooperative Savings and Loan Bank. The Schuilenga family now has ten children, all of whom help in the business.
When war breaks out, the family clearly shows its anti-Nazi stance. From Reformed conviction there was no doubt about that. Taeke was a freedom-loving man, very opposed to injustice. When the young men's association of the church has to stop, all the bibles and books of the vestry are hidden in coffins in the large attic of the factory. The association will meet there from now on.
Taeke was fined in 1941 for loyalty to the former royal family. Two of his sons and his youngest daughter Ettje, then 19 years old, are detained for some time in the detention center in Groningen. His brother, diarist Jan-Djoerd, has been imprisoned since July 1943. Taeke manages to get him released in September.
The fact that several Schuilengas are detained confuses the Germans. Harm Schuilenga, sentenced to three years in a concentration camp, is accidentally released. He goes into hiding, but later still visits customers in front of the factory. On October 29, 1943, resistance fighters are on their way to murder Pier Nobach, the devil of the Westerkwartier.
Near his house, they encounter his son Herman. Later Jan-Djoerd writes: Nobach was so indignant about the shooting of his son that he started shooting at the Groningen buses and passers-by with a revolver.
Five days later, the real revenge follows. In the morning of November 4, Taeke Schuilenga is picked up by three men and taken to the Scholtenshuis, the Groningen SD headquarters. The same evening he is taken away in a car. Between Oosterwolde and Veenhuizen it stops. At a remote farm, the dogs strike. A day later Taeke Schuilenga, 65 years old, hidden under leaves, is discovered by a worker. Schuuilenga was shot in the head without trial.
The indignation in Surhuisterveen about the death of the rusk manufacturer is great. Taeke Schuilenga is buried under enormous interest.

Source: Helene Butijn
THE GUIDE 15
Ten monuments

Note:
The bust is part of the Coin and Penning Cabinet Surhuisterveen and is on permanent loan from the Resistance Museum Leeuwarden. The statue is currently in deposit because the Spaar en Voorschotbank no longer exists as a bank.

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

Source

• Text: Bert Deelman
• Photos: Bert Deelman (1), Neysupport (2, 3)
• Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei