War Memorial Bouke de Vries

The monument on the N.H. cemetery was erected in memory of Bouke de Vries, who was shot by the occupying forces during the Second World War.

In the April-May days of 1943, strikes also took place in Oudega. Milk drivers on their way to the dairy were stopped and the milk cans emptied into the ditch. It was rumored that sabotage would be committed on the railway line to Staveren. The German authorities probably heard about this, because the police were instructed to also affix a placard about the proclamation of the court on the notice board at the entrance to the dairy on Sunday morning, 2 May. The Oudgaster population gathered on and around the factory site to read the publication when the occupier arrived at the factory. At that moment it turned out that dozens of cans of milk had been emptied from a milk barge. Four boys were arrested and taken to Sneek.

The occupier could not find the local lorry driver Bouke de Vries. Therefore, his wife was arrested instead. When De Vries heard this, he immediately wanted to turn himself in to get his wife released. Despite being advised against this, he reported to the occupiers. Mrs. De Vries was released, but her husband was probably executed together with Broer de Witte from Westhem and the Gorredijkster teacher Jan Eisenga at the old shooting range at the Leeuwarder Kalverdijkje on 5 May 1943. His remains have never been found.

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