6 British bombers attacked Waalhaven airport near Rotterdam in May 1940, where German troops had landed. 7 of the 13 crew members were killed. 2 were buried in Spijkenisse and 1 in Piershil (Hoeksche Waard). 4 of the deceased crew members were buried in Crooswijk. They will be commemorated this year by Mayor Carola Schouten, together with a delegation from the United Kingdom.

We Must Continue to Remember

Rotterdams Elsa van Gelderen has been a board member of the Dutch branch of The Royal British Legion. Link opens an external page for 23 years. This is an organization that supports British soldiers, veterans, and their families. The commemorations have made a deep impression on Van Gelderen. Especially the commemoration in Crooswijk always touches her, as this monument symbolizes the sacrifices of British soldiers in the Rotterdam region.

Van Gelderen emphasizes that remembering must not become a thing of the past. We have come to take peace and freedom for granted. We must continue to remember, on May 4 and at other times, to honor the sacrifices of all soldiers who fought for our freedom. She advocates for more attention to be given to history in schools and, for example, inviting veterans to share their stories. The words of British war hero John Maxwell Edmonds stay with her: For your tomorrow, we gave our today. We can grow old because they gave their lives.

Poppy Box

Van Gelderens interest in The Royal British Legion began in the 1970s. She saw a poppy box at a cousin of her British mother in England, which collected money for injured soldiers and the families of fallen soldiers. A poppy is English for cornflower. This flower has become the symbol of World War I. Later, the poppy was used to remember and honor all fallen soldiers, including those after World War I.

Inspired by her grandfather, who returned wounded from that war in 1919, and an uncle who fought in World War II, she delved into the organizations work. In 2003, she was asked to take over the representation in Rotterdam. Since then, the commemoration at the Allied Monument has become a fixed part of her life.

Minister from London

A commemoration in Vlaardingen also stayed with Van Gelderen. A British minister had come especially from London for this. The commemoration was for a downed plane, in which the brother of his mother was killed. This uncle had a famous surname for Elsa. After some inquiries, it turned out he was a distant relative of hers. That makes such a commemoration very poignant.

Memorial Day in Rotterdam

On May 4, Rotterdam commemorates all civilians and soldiers who have died or been murdered anywhere in the world since the outbreak of World War II, in war situations and during peacekeeping operations. Throughout the day, there are commemorations at various locations in the city. The mayor lays wreaths on behalf of the municipal council at several of these locations, including in Crooswijk.

At 8:00 PM, Rotterdam observes two minutes of silence. For an overview of where and when commemorations take place, visit the page rotterdam.nl/dodenherdenking. Link opens an external page.