Monument Tramway Company

The monument was erected in memory of seven employees of the N.T.M. who died during the occupation years as a result of acts of war.

The names of the seven victims are:

R. Akkerman, born on January 10, 1897. He was a conductor. On February 4, 1943, the tram from Heerenveen to Drachten, on which it served, was shot at by Allied aircraft at De Knijpe. Akkerman was fatally injured.

Herman van Kranen, May 8, 1895. He was a conductor, based in Lemmer. Van Kranen was killed near Follega on 5 August 1944 when a freight tram was fired on. He was buried at the General Cemetery in Lemmer.

Hessel Nijholt, born on October 22, 1886. He was foreman II, based in Groningen. On October 26, 1944, he was shot in Groningen when he wanted to evade the compulsory employment. He was buried at R.K. cemetery in Groningen.

Gerke van der Veer, born on October 20, 1891. He worked as a craftsman I, based in Drachten. During the rail and tram strike on September 19, 1944, a group of Landwachters entered the workshops of the N.T.M. inside, to collect addresses of the submerged machinists. Van der Veer wanted to inform his sick wife about the state of affairs. He stepped over the gate separating his home from the station and was shot dead without any warning. He was buried at the General South Cemetery in Drachten.

Dirk de Vries, born on June 21, 1925. He was a labourer/night worker, based in Drachten. During the rail and tram strike, it fell into the hands of the occupying forces. He was shot on 19 November 1944 with Hans Goudsmit and Jan Zorn at Menaldum as a reprisal. De Vries was buried at the General South Cemetery in Drachten.

Tjitze de Vries, born on September 24, 1893. He was a machinist, based in Groningen. On September 16, 1944, a freight tram near Marum was shot at, and de Vries was seriously injured. The next day he died of his injuries. De Vries was buried at the N.H. cemetery in Lekkum.

Gerhardus Wagenaar, born on December 28, 1907. He was a worker at the N.T.M., based in Drachten. As a result of the rail and tram strike, Wagenaar went into hiding with the de Vries family at Legauke in Opeinde. On November 21, 1944, he and the brothers Jan and Marten de Vries were shot dead during a firefight with the occupying forces. He was buried at the General Cemetery in Opeinde.

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Source

• Text: Bert Deelman
• Photos: Bert Deelman
• Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei