A new memorial stone has recently been placed at the entrance of the Anda Kerkhoven Centre on the Healthy Ageing Campus in Groningen. A large marble stone bears a poem that commemorates the life and legacy of Anda Kerkhoven (1919–1945). Kerkhoven, a resistance fighter during World War II, symbolizes courage, sacrifice, and the fight for freedom. The stone was unveiled on March 19, 81 years after her execution in the Glimmen forests.
A Monument for Remembrance and Reflection
The poem “Ergens is het ooit begonnen” (“It All Began Somewhere”) was specially written for this occasion by poet Lilian Zielstra, commissioned by Stichting Straatpoezie Groningen. Zielstra served as the poet-in-residence at the University of Groningen (RUG) during the 2013–2014 academic year, giving this contribution extra significance.
The stone is publicly accessible at the entrance of the new RUG building, the Anda Kerkhoven Centre. The initiative is a collaboration between the University of Groningen and Stichting Straatpoezie Groningen. “By placing poetry in public spaces, we make stories like that of Anda Kerkhoven accessible to everyone,” says Anton Scheepstra of Stichting Straatpoezie Groningen. “It is a way to keep the memory of Anda Kerkhoven alive and to create a moment of reflection in daily life.”
About Anda Kerkhoven
Groningen-born resistance fighter and medical student Anda Kerkhoven (1919–1945) is one of the most inspiring students in the history of the University of Groningen, both for her life and ideals and for the way she stood up for them. She was driven by pacifism and a deep love of nature. During World War II, she joined the resistance, assisting, among other things, in forging identity papers. In 1944, she was arrested and executed on March 19, 1945, in the forests between Haren and Glimmen. Her courage and dedication to justice continue to serve as an enduring source of inspiration.
Visiting the Memorial Stone
The stone is freely accessible at the entrance of the Anda Kerkhoven Centre, located at Antonius Deusinglaan 3 in Groningen. Visitors and passersby are invited to read the poem and reflect on the story of this remarkable resistance woman.
More information about this and other poetry projects in the city can be found on the Stichting Straatpoezie Groningen website.
Source article and picture: University of Groningen.
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