The monument 'Two Bridges' (‘Twee Bruggen’) in Groningen (municipality of Groningen) consists of a Maple Leaf with an upright Corten steel plaque. The Maple Leaf is a Sugar Maple tree. The text is cut out of the steel.
The text on the plaque reads:
‘TWO BRIDGES’
WE BUILD A BRIDGE TO THE PAST
IT IS APRIL 16, 1945
THEY ARE HERE
AND CANNOT MOVE FORWARD, THE CANADIANS
BOTH BRIDGES AT THE LOCK ARE OPEN
AND WHILE POP, JACOB-JAN, AND JAN DIJKEMA
ARE LOWERING ONE – AT THE RISK OF THEIR OWN LIVES –
DEATH FALLS ON BOTH SIDES
ROY COFFIN, WHO COVERED THE DIJKEMAS,
IS ONE OF THEM.
ONWARD TO DELFZIJL! A DECISIVE DAY.
REMEMBER AND ACT LIKE ROY,
WHO BUILT A BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE…
YOU ARE HERE.
Popke Dijkema was a resistance hero from Groningen who contributed to the liberation of Groningen. Together with his brother Jacob Jan and Jacob Jan’s son Jan, he manually closed a bridge at the Oostersluis on April 16, 1945, at great risk to their own lives. By doing so, they cleared the way for the Canadians in their advance toward Delfzijl.
The Canadian soldier Roy Walter Coffin, who had provided cover and a diversion by standing upright while the gates were being opened, was fatally struck by bullets.
