New Lisse bridge honors WWII resistance hero Bastiaan Romeijn
A new bridge in Lisse’s Geestwater district will bear the name of Bastiaan Romeijn, a local resistance fighter who died in WWII. His son received the nameplate, ensuring his legacy lives on as the neighborhood develops with 450 new homes.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Bridge Name | Bastiaan Romeijn Bridge |
| Location | Ringsloot, Geestwater district, Lisse |
| Honoree | Bastiaan Romeijn, WWII resistance fighter |
| Fate | Arrested in 1944, died in Neuengamme concentration camp |
| Other WWII Heroes Honored | Wim Döll and Jan de Haan (streets named after them) |
| Park Name | Vrijheidspark (Freedom Park) |
| Street Naming Themes | Butterflies (Phase 1), Archaeology (Phase 2) |
| Homes Planned | ~450 (mix of owner-occupied, rental, and self-build) |
| Municipal Decision | Based on 2007 council motion |
The Municipality of Lisse is responsible for naming public infrastructure, such as bridges and streets, to honor historical figures and themes that reflect local identity. This process is guided by the Street Naming Committee, which ensures names are meaningful and avoid confusion for emergency services.
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Son of Lisse resistance hero receives nameplate for new bridge
Mr. Bas Romeijn (82) has received the nameplate for the bridge over the Ringsloot from aldermen Kees van der Zwet and Jolanda Langeveld. The bridge is being built in the new Geestwater district and will be named after his father, Bastiaan Romeijn, one of the four Lisse heroes who bravely resisted during World War II but who has not yet had a street named after him. Establishing a street name is difficult because there is already a Romijnstraat in the municipality (De Engel district), which could cause confusion for emergency services.
Bridge naming
For the name of the bridge over the Ringsloot, which will connect phases 1 and 2 and the landscape park in Geestwater, the name Bastiaan Romeijn Bridge has been chosen on the advice of the Street Naming Committee. Bastiaan Romeijn was arrested in May 1944 for his involvement in the raid on the Lisse population register earlier that year. Along with two other resistance fighters, Wim Döll and Jan de Haan, he was sent from concentration camp Vught to Oranienburg and ultimately died in Neuengamme. He has his own gravestone in the Dutch cemetery there, provided by the War Graves Foundation. The other two heroes already have streets named after them. Mr. Bas Romeijn: “It moves me that this bridge is named after my father. It is a visible reminder of his courage and bravery in contributing to the liberation of our country. It has had a major impact on my own life.”
Park naming
The park in Geestwater will be called Vrijheidspark (Freedom Park). Alderman Kees van der Zwet: “I am pleased that we are now giving substance to the municipal council’s mandate through the naming of the bridge and park, as outlined in a 2007 motion.” Alderwoman Jolanda Langeveld adds: “By naming the bridge after these Lisse heroes of World War II, we ensure they are not forgotten and create a tangible reminder.”
Streets named after butterflies and archaeological finds
Work is currently underway to organize the public space in the “Geestwater phase 1” area of the future Geestwater residential district, located between the Ruishornlaan and the Ringsloot. Eight streets will be built in this area, and the theme for the street names is butterflies. This theme refers to a sense of freedom, nature at your doorstep, and the promotion of biodiversity. It therefore fits well with the concept of “living in the landscape.” In the “Geestwater phase 2” area, four streets will be built, and the theme for these street names is archaeology. These street names are a good fit for the recent archaeological finds in Dever-Zuid.
Living in Geestwater
Geestwater will be a green residential neighborhood close to the village center of Lisse. It will consist of approximately 450 homes in different phases, ranging from owner-occupied homes to (social) rental homes in all price categories. There will be a mix of housing types: terraced houses, semi-detached houses, detached houses, small-scale apartment buildings, and self-build homes. The Ringsloot runs through Geestwater, dividing the area into two residential landscapes: “Thuis op je Terp” and “Wonen aan de Watering.” More information can be found on the Geestwater website.