On the quiet sandy path of Oosterbroekweg in Glimmen (municipality of Haren), a small monument stands in memory of courageous resistance fighters who were murdered here in March 1945. Among them were Gerrit Boekhoven and Diny Aikema, remembered for their extraordinary moral courage during the German occupation. During the war, they operated under the aliases Mr. and Mrs. De Groot, but their true legacy lies in the lives they saved and the risks they took to help others.
Throughout the occupation, Gerrit and Diny provided vital support to thousands of people in hiding, including many Jewish families. They supplied ration cards, identity papers, money, and other necessities, quietly defying the occupiers without resorting to violence. The so-called De Groot Group was pacifist in nature; instead of armed resistance, its members relied on trust, ingenuity, and an extensive underground network.
Their courage came at a terrible cost. In January 1945, Gerrit Boekhoven was arrested by the German Sicherheitsdienst. Soon afterward, the De Groot Group was exposed, and its members were systematically hunted. Gerrit and Diny ultimately paid with their lives, leaving a profound void in the lives of those they had protected.
For many years, this site commemorated Anda Kerkhoven, a resistance fighter who was executed here and whose memorial stone marked the place. Only later were two additional stones placed beside hers, honoring Gerrit Boekhoven and Diny Aikema. Their inclusion completed the story of this location, transforming it into a shared place of remembrance for all three resistance fighters who were killed here.
The monument now bears their names:
“GERRIT BOEKHOVEN, DINY AIKEMA, AND ANDA KERKHOVEN”
It stands not only as a tribute to their sacrifice, but also as a reminder of the quiet heroism of ordinary citizens who risked everything to protect others. Along this unassuming path in Glimmen, the story of Gerrit, Diny, and Anda lives on—a testament to courage, compassion, and the unbreakable human spirit in the face of oppression.
