Monument Cardinal de Jong

The monument on the Kardinaal de Jongweg was erected in memory of His Eminence Johannes de Jong, who led the ecclesiastical resistance against the occupying forces during the Second World War.

Cardinal De Jong was born on September 10, 1885 in Nes on Ameland and died in Amersfoort on September 8, 1955. After his ordination as a priest, Cardinal De Jong studied theology and philosophy in Rome. In 1914 he became professor at the major seminary in Rijsenburg (Utrecht) and in 1931 president of the institution. In 1935 he became Coadjutor and in 1936 Archbishop of Utrecht.

Dr. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Johannes de Jong soon acted as leader of the ecclesiastical resistance against National Socialism and in 1941 had the existing condemnation of the NSB repeated in a sharpened form from all pulpits. Church resistance was developed in collaboration with the Protestant foremen, in which Prof. Titus Brandsma played an important role. Due to his steadfast attitude towards the occupier, Archbishop De Jong was nicknamed 'Iron John'. After the war, the cardinal was honored with the Grand Cross of the Netherlands Lion. Almost 70 years old he died in Amersfoort and was buried at the R.K. cemetery 'Sint-Barbara' in Utrecht.

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