Gorinchem builds €1 million memorial to honor 16th-century martyrs
Residents and visitors of Gorinchem will soon have a dedicated space to reflect on the Gorcum Martyrs, a tragic chapter from the Eighty Years' War. The €1 million memorial, funded by donations, will open this autumn near the Cloister Passage, offering a place for remembrance and education.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Cloister Passage, Gorinchem, Zuid-Holland |
| Subject | Gorcum Martyrs (19 Catholic clergy executed in 1572) |
| Cost | €1 million |
| Funding | Donations, sponsorships, and funds (municipality covers relocation costs) |
| Construction Start | Soon |
| Expected Completion | Autumn 2026 |
| Ownership | Transferred to municipality after completion |
| Maintenance Funding | Allocated for 10 years |
| Current Land Use | Parking area (to be relocated) |
The municipality of Gorinchem plays a key role in preserving local history by facilitating the construction and future maintenance of the memorial site. It collaborates with foundations and housing corporations to ensure the project aligns with the city’s cultural and historical values.
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Gorinchem to receive a memorial site for the Gorcum Martyrs
Gorinchem will soon have a new place to reflect on the Gorcum Martyrs of 1572. The municipality and the Gorcum Martyrs Memorial Foundation 1572 have signed an agreement to this effect. The memorial site will be located near the Cloister Passage.
A new place for remembrance
The Gorcum Martyrs were nineteen Catholic clergy who were arrested in 1572 during the Eighty Years' War. They were later executed in Brielle for their faith. This took place during a turbulent period in Dutch history, when people were fighting for independence and religious freedom.
This story is part of Gorinchem’s history. The new memorial site will provide a place where residents and visitors can reflect on this past. It will also serve as a meeting place to learn more about history.
Agreements on construction and management
A permit has already been granted for the memorial site. Currently, the location is used as a parking area, which will be relocated to land owned by housing corporation Poort6.
Once construction is complete, the foundation will transfer ownership of the memorial site to the municipality. The municipality will then be responsible for its upkeep and maintenance. Funds have been allocated for this purpose for the next ten years.
Project costs
The memorial site will cost approximately €1 million. The majority of this amount will come from funds, donations, and sponsorships. The municipality will cover the costs of relocating the parking area and landscaping the surroundings. It will not, however, fund the memorial itself.
Completion expected in autumn
The foundation will soon begin construction work, with the memorial site expected to be completed in the autumn. A formal opening will follow.
With this memorial site, Gorinchem demonstrates the city’s commitment to its history and its collaborative efforts to create a meaningful place for the present and future.
Pictured: members of the board of the Gorcum Martyrs Memorial Foundation 1572, Alderman Polatli, and advisor Mrs. du Cloux (left).