At the General Cemetery in Eelde stands an impressive war memorial commemorating the sacrifices of the Second World War. The bronze sculpture, created by artist Willem Johannes Valk and unveiled in 1948, depicts a mourning female figure gently lowering a cloth — a symbol of grief and tenderness.
The monument was placed on the grave of Stoffer Holtjer, a chief constable in the Marechaussee and an active member of the resistance. Arrested in January 1945, he was executed on 8 March 1945 at the Woeste Hoeve. His courage and dedication have made him a lasting symbol of resistance in Eelde.
Yet the memorial has a broader meaning: the inscription “We remember all in you, Stoffer Holtjer, who fell for freedom” makes clear that it also honors all those who gave their lives in the struggle for liberty.
Today, the monument remains an important place of remembrance and reflection, where residents and visitors alike pause each year to reflect on the value of freedom.
