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Memorial "Sint-Joris en de Draak" Old Town Hall Gouda

The monument "St. George and the Dragon" can be found on the side of the Old Town Hall on the Market Square in Gouda. Unveiled in 1948, the natural stone relief symbolizes the battle between good (St. George) and evil (The Dragon) and reminds the citizens of Gouda of all fellow citizens who died during the occupation years due to acts of war.

Inscription on the monument:
"Gouda commemorates its men and women, who died in the fight against the usurper. Two died as soldiers in May 1940. In the resistance W. M. Boelhouwer, W. J. Dercksen, A. De Rijke Widenburg, A. De Korte, A. Nieuwenhuysen, H. L. Van Royen. Eighteen did not return from prison or concentration camp. Six and Forty died in bombardments of the city. One hundred thirty-seven Jewish residents were taken away and killed. Sixty citizens of the twenty-two hundred who were forced to work for the enemy did not return. In the hunger winter, the death rate rose to three times that amount. When the water had risen to our lips God gave us liberation."

Left and right below the monument are 2 glass panels bearing the names of 521 fallen and murdered Gouwen citizens. These panels have replaced those hung elsewhere at City Hall since 2022. These still contained 146 names, but after intensive study they appear to be 521 (or maybe more). Hence the addition "and fellow townsmen not named".

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Source

  • Text: Pieter Schlebaum & Dick de Bruijne
  • Photos: Dick de Bruijne (1, 2, 3), Peter Schipper (4, 5)

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