Yesterday I was at De Dodenherdenking. On the 4th of May in The Netherlands we commemorate the sacrifices (both in the armed forces and of civilians) during war-time. The ceremony takes place throughout all of Holland, but the biggest ceremony is held on Dam Square in the centre of Amsterdam, where one can find the National Monument, a white statue, erectedin 1956 to remember the fallen soldiers during World War II.
Like many families in the Netherlands, my family has a lot of links with World War II. My great-grandfather (Barend Arendsen) was a trader in wood and quite a prominent figure in the village of Harderwijk. Together with several others in his family and other members of the Harderwijk community he participated in the local resistance. His sons were named Hendrik Arendsen (my grandfather) and Alef Arendsen.
During or shortly after Easter, the German forces captured my Barend Arendsen and Alef Arendsen and took them to a camp somewhere further East. On April 12th, just two days before the allied forces reached Apeldoorn, they were executed in the woods.
This event has played a large role in my family’s history. I believe my grandfather was 26 (his wife had given birth to two children during the war) when he lost his father and brother and was left running a sawmill with several employees to take care of. My grandfather died last year after having lived a long life full.
For a long time, my grandfather received invitations to the Dodenherdenking at the Dam. Sometimes he went himself, sometimes somebody else in the family went. After him passing away, my mum applied for invitations. Due to my having the same name as one of the victims of the April 12 killings, the National Committee for 4 & 5 May is sending me invitations now as well.
Yesterday I took my Italian friend G. to Amsterdam to give him a bit of insight into this Dutch’ish event. It was good to be there.
