The monument 'The Last Glance' (De laatste blik’ Monument) in Bad Nieuweschans, part of the Oldambt municipality, stands as a solemn tribute to the memory of all those deported by the Germans, who were transported by train through Nieuweschans.
Nieuweschans was the final stop where the train carrying deportees, including primarily Jews, Communists, Romani people, anarchists, and resistance fighters from Camp Westerbork, came to a halt. From Nieuweschans, these deportees embarked on a harrowing journey to concentration camps in Germany and Eastern Europe, making Nieuweschans their last glimpse of the Netherlands.
The monument was established as a parting gift to the residents of the Reiderland municipality, which merged into the Oldambt municipality on January 1, 2010.
On May 4, 2010, Mayor Martin Zijlstra unveiled this poignant monument, serving as a lasting reminder of the dark history it represents.
The text on the monument reads:
'NIEUWESCHANS, THE FINAL STOP
IN MEMORY OF OVER 100,000 RESIDENTS OF THE NETHERLANDS, PRIMARILY JEWS, ROMANI PEOPLE, COMMUNISTS, ANARCHISTS, AND RESISTANCE FIGHTERS, WHO WERE DEPORTED FROM CAMP WESTERBORK TO CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN GERMANY AND EASTERN EUROPE BETWEEN 1942 AND 1944.
NIEUWESCHANS WAS THE LAST STOP IN THE NETHERLANDS. THE TRAIN MADE THIS JOURNEY 93 TIMES.'
