Erebegraafplaats

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Description

The CEMETERY situated in the dune area north of the Zeeweg and parallel to the coastline forms part of the complex of the Honour Cemetery. The entrance to the cemetery in the northwest corner consists of a wooden gate and an enclosing wooden arch with the inscription 'sacred is the ground you tread upon'. Directly behind the gate a staircase to the plateau surrounding the rectangular sunken grave area. The rubble stone paving in Limburg carboniferous sandstone of the plateau surrounding the cemetery has been partially recently replaced by smooth stones for accessibility for the disabled. The wall surrounding the cemetery, constructed in Maulbronn sandstone, has a greater height on the western side (seaward) for protection against wind-blown sand. At the southwestern end of the higher constructed wall work a wooden bell gable with a bronze bell from 1647, originating from the former town hall of Overveen. In the wall beside the bell gable four memorial plaques of dark green syenite with texts by H.M. van Randwijk (1906-1966). At the southern end of the cemetery the flagpole and five wreath holders of Labrador granite. In the northeast corner of the cemetery a bronze urn by L.O. (Oswald) Wenckenbach (1895-1962) with ashes of the mortal remains of those executed, originating from the crematorium at Driehuis-Westerveld and the cremation oven of the concentration camp Vught. The cemetery itself consists of a sunken area with grave stones in 41 unequal square or elongated sections and paths in Limburg carboniferous sandstone. The grave stones originally made in Oberkirchner sandstone were replaced by granite stones in 1984-1985. The original planting by J.T.P. Bijhouwer and L. van Weydom Claterbos was entirely replaced in 1976 by the Heidemij and consists mainly of low-growing planting of ground cover and other perennials and grasses, adapted to the poor dune soil. The cemetery contains 372 graves - one of which is an unknown person - and one stone in memory of resistance fighters not found or buried elsewhere. The total of 373 gravestones are horizontal, uniform and without ornaments symbolizing the fact that in the resistance all pursued the same goal and death makes all equal.

In the southeast corner an exit for the disabled and outside the wall, against the southwest corner of the cemetery a scatter field laid out in 1977 for the ashes of former resistance fighters or widows of resistance fighters buried in the cemetery.

Valuation

The walled CEMETERY does not flow with the dune landscape, but appears to be carved out of it. This creates 'monumentality of the flat plane'. The enclosure of the ordered space of the cemetery harmonizes with the vastness of the disordered landscape. The sober and controlled design seems to float in the undulating dune landscape, with the effect of grandeur, peace and solemnity. The cemetery is of cultural-historical importance because of its commemorative and symbolic value in relation to resistance during World War II. The cemetery has architectural-historical value because of its striking location in the landscape and fitting design principles, the quality of the materialization and the integrity of the original design. The cemetery is of landscape and garden-historical importance because of its location in the dune landscape and planting appropriate to its function.