History
The Netherlands marks Remembrance Day on the 4th of May to commemorate the civilian and military victims since the start of the Second World War.
These commemorations happen in almost every municipality and the national commemoration will be on De Dam in Amsterdam and will be broadcast live on television. This year’s activities will be scaled back a bit because of possible protests to keep everything safe.
The King and Queen of the Netherlands along with other VIPs will also be present to lay a wreath in remembrance of the victims.
At 20:00 the whole country will mark 2 minutes of silence. At this moment the traffic and public transport will be standing still as well.
Remembrance in Groningen
In Groningen, there are many art pieces and monuments commemorating the victims of the war or the allies that freed the Netherlands.
About 20 years ago the municipality asked artists to submit a subtle but strong art piece to remember the Jewish history of the Folkingestraat. Five artists were chosen and were commissioned for an art piece here called ‘Envisioned Past’ which is a collection of 5 different subtle art pieces.‘The Portal’ by Gert Sennema and The Moons by Joseph Semah are a part of these.
The other art pieces are ‘Also Here’ by Peter de Kan, they’re the words ‘taken away’ carved into the side wall of one of the buildings, ‘The Pre-cut Horse’ by Marijke Gemessy, which consists of the back legs of a horse in between two buildings, and an untitled work by Allie van Altena consisting of three pictures with confetti over them throughout the street.
The moons in the Folkingestraat
In the Folkingestraat, the street running between the Vismarkt and the synagogue, eleven bronze moons are visible in between the cobblestones. Together they resemble all the phases of the moon. While they might be missed as you’re cycling past, they’re art piece by Jewish artist Joseph Semah called ‘Galgal Hamazalot: Tekens van de Dierenriem’ (Signs of the Zodiac).
The art piece is a memory of the Jewish life in the Folkingestraat until the Second World War. The moon phases will reach a full moon and then will diminish again, becoming smaller, this symbolises the growing and decreasing of the Jewish community. It also refers to the Jewish calendar which is based on the phases of the moon.
Closed door in the Folkingestraat
This one is also easily missed. In the Folkingestraat there is a bronze door that can’t be opened and doesn’t have a door handle.
The door is called ‘the portal’ by artist Gert Sennema. Behind the door, the dark history of the Folkingestraat lies hidden. The street was until 1942 the centre of the Jewish neighbourhood, in the same year about 2500 Jewish Groningers were transported to concentration camps and another 300 a year after.
St. George and the Dragon statue
The St. George and the Dragon statue has been standing next to the Martini church since 1959 and was created by Professor Ludwig Oswald Wenkebach.
The statue is of a male figure in a chain mail vest holding a sword. The sword is inscribed with the words ‘Justitia, Liberta, Pax’ (Justice, Liberty, Peace) and the dragon is pictured on the front surface.
The story of St George and the Dragon is an early Christian legend symbolising the fight between good (St George) and evil (the Dragon). The statue is placed on a pedestal which resembles evil, showing that good will always win.
The art piece is in remembrance of all the victims of the Second World War, especially the ones in the province of Groningen.
Recently, in remembrance of Russia’s opposition leader Alexei Navalny, flowers and candles were left here too.
