Listen | Resistance Monument
The resistance monument in Oostzaan, unveiled on 4 May 1978, is a poignant tribute to the brave resistance hero Rev Nanne Zwiep.
This Dutch-reformed preacher, born on 3 August 1894 in the Beemster region, spoke out forcefully against National Socialism and the persecution of Jews during World War II. His courageous sermon on 19 April 1942, warning against the growing influence of the NSB, led to his arrest by the Nazis. After months of interrogation and imprisonment in Arnhem and Amersfoort, he was transported to Dachau concentration camp, where he died of exhaustion and malnutrition on 24 November 1942.
The monument, designed by artist Roel Bendijk, consists of a bronze chair on a concrete pedestal, surrounded by a circular pavement. The chair symbolises both the emptiness and strength of the resistance fighters. The bars of the chair are reminiscent of bars. A bird is chained to one of these bars, emphasising the absence of freedom.
This monume...
This Dutch-reformed preacher, born on 3 August 1894 in the Beemster region, spoke out forcefully against National Socialism and the persecution of Jews during World War II. His courageous sermon on 19 April 1942, warning against the growing influence of the NSB, led to his arrest by the Nazis. After months of interrogation and imprisonment in Arnhem and Amersfoort, he was transported to Dachau concentration camp, where he died of exhaustion and malnutrition on 24 November 1942.
The monument, designed by artist Roel Bendijk, consists of a bronze chair on a concrete pedestal, surrounded by a circular pavement. The chair symbolises both the emptiness and strength of the resistance fighters. The bars of the chair are reminiscent of bars. A bird is chained to one of these bars, emphasising the absence of freedom.
This monument reminds us of the value of freedom and justice, and emphasises the need to defend it. The resistance monument remains a powerful symbol of the sacrifices Zwiep and many others made in the fight against oppression and injustice.
