Temporary move for Zeeland Holocaust memorial plaque during station restoration
A memorial plaque honoring deported Zeeland Jews has been temporarily relocated to ZB Bibliotheek van Zeeland during Middelburg station’s restoration. Residents can still visit the plaque, ensuring the community’s history remains accessible while the station undergoes repairs.
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Memorial Plaque | Commemorates Zeeland Jews deported from Middelburg on March 24, 1942 |
| Temporary Location | ZB Bibliotheek van Zeeland, Kousteensedijk |
| Original Location | Middelburg Station (under restoration) |
| Artist | Appie Drielsma |
| Inscription | “On March 24, 1942, the long journey of the Zeeland Jews to the extermination camps began 1940–1945” |
| Collaborating Parties | Municipality of Middelburg, ZB, Jewish Community of Zeeland |
| Return Date | After station restoration is completed |
The Municipality of Middelburg oversees the preservation of historical sites and public memorials, ensuring they remain accessible and respectful. The Jewish Community of Zeeland plays a key role in safeguarding the region’s Jewish heritage, collaborating with local authorities on commemorative initiatives.
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Memorial plaque for deported Zeeland Jews temporarily moved to ZB due to station restoration
The memorial plaque commemorating the Zeeland Jews who were deported from Middelburg on March 24, 1942, has temporarily been relocated to the ZB Bibliotheek van Zeeland on Kousteensedijk. The plaque was carefully removed from the station hall by Kunstwacht in preparation for the upcoming restoration of the station building and has been rehung at the ZB.
The relocation was carried out in close collaboration between the Municipality of Middelburg, the ZB, and the Jewish Community of Zeeland, ensuring that the plaque remains visible and accessible to residents and visitors during the construction work.
Reason for relocation
The station building has long been closed to the public due to its poor structural condition. As a result, the plaque was no longer in a visible or accessible location. Additionally, the restoration of the historic station building will soon begin, necessitating a safe temporary location.
New temporary location: ZB staircase hall
The new temporary location at the ZB was determined in consultation with the Jewish Community of Zeeland. Together, a prominent and dignified spot was chosen on the wall of the staircase hall, between the ground floor and the first floor. This location is fitting as it allows the plaque to be securely mounted and is immediately visible to visitors from the landing. Furthermore, the surroundings provide a respectful context, as the building also houses the historic Torah scrolls of the Jewish Community of Zeeland.
Plaque to return to the station after restoration
Once the restoration of the station building is completed, the plaque will return to a prominent location in or near the station. The parties involved will carefully coordinate the final location in the coming period.
Background
The plaque was unveiled in the station hall on March 11, 2011, by two survivors of the Shoah. It commemorates the Jewish residents of Middelburg and Zeeland who were forcibly removed from the station in 1942. They were first required to relocate to Amsterdam, from where most were subsequently deported to extermination camps and murdered. The artwork, created by Appie Drielsma, bears the inscription: “On March 24, 1942, the long journey of the Zeeland Jews to the extermination camps began 1940–1945,” accompanied by a Hebrew passage emphasizing that the names of the dead must not be forgotten.
Earlier this year, the booklet “Everyone Could See It, March 24, 1942” by G.J. Kouwen was presented during the National Holocaust (Shoah) Remembrance on January 19 in the Koorkerk in Middelburg. The booklet describes the events surrounding the deportation of the Zeeland Jews on the orders of the German authorities and the measures that preceded it.