Stoffer Holtjer, born in 1903 in Eelde, was a chief constable in the Marechaussee and an active member of the Dutch resistance during the Second World War. From his position he helped people in hiding and worked together with resistance groups in the region. His commitment, however, put him in great danger: in January 1945 he was betrayed and arrested by the Germans.
On 8 March 1945 Holtjer was executed at the infamous Woeste Hoeve, where 117 prisoners were shot as a reprisal for an attack on SS leader Hanns Rauter. His death left a deep mark in Eelde, where he was a respected member of the community.
After the liberation, Holtjer was reburied at the General Cemetery in Eelde. Since 1948, his grave has been marked by a monument: a bronze statue of a mourning woman, designed by Willem Johannes Valk. With the inscription “We remember all in you, Stoffer Holtjer, who fell for freedom”, this memorial honors not only Holtjer himself, but also all those who gave their lives for freedom.
Today, Stoffer Holtjer is remembered as a lasting symbol of courage and resistance, commemorated annually in Eelde.
