De Boeg WWII Monument
Since Rotterdam is the largest Dutch port city, it is no surprise that it was chosen as the location for ‘De Boeg’ (The Bow), the national merchant marine World War II memorial monument honoring all of the Dutch and Allied sailors who lost their lives in the war.
Have you wondered about the structure shown in the photo above, which sits on the banks of the Maas river near the Erasmusbrug? Read on to learn the story behind this Dutch World War II memorial monument.
WWII DUTCH MARITIME MEMORIAL REQUEST
The impetus for this monument dates back to 1947, just two years after WWII ended, and was initiated by members of the Rotterdam maritime industry who proposed it to the Dutch national monuments commission for war memorials. A design contest was held for this memorial which would remember all the merchant marines from Dutch and Allied forces who lost their lives during the war. The location for the monument, which was to be visible from both the water and the Coolsingel, was chosen in 1949.
THE MEMORIAL’S DESIGN
In the autumn of 1952, after much public debate and conflict of opinion between the key parties involved, which included the Merchant Marine National Monument Foundation, the Princess Margriet Fund and the Nederlandse Redersvereniging, the foundation’s executive board chose De Boeg by Frederico Carasso to become the Netherlands National Merchant Marine Memorial.
The 45-meter high structure (made of gray sculpted-aluminum plates) is meant to resemble the bow of a ship cutting through waves (made of brown stone). Written on the base are the words ‘Zij hielden koers‘ (they stayed the course).
DESIGN CHANGE
During the course of the following year, the foundation’s concern about the monument’s design being too simple, was resolved in discussion with the artist. He was to create a bronze sculpture to be installed at the base. The sculpture would convey three human traits – remembering loss, overcoming challenges and envisioning a brighter future.
Despite the additional piece not be ready, the De Boeg monument was officially unveiled in 1957 by Princess Margriet as it had been originally designed. The additional sculpture would not come for another 8 years due to ongoing disagreements between the artist and the foundation over its design. It was finally installed in the summer of 1965.
The bronze element (shown in the photo below) includes five figures – a helmsman, 3 sailors and a drowned figure (the last of which cannot be seen in the image as it appears on the opposite side). The sailors look downward toward the sea below. The 5 figures are all joined by a nautical rope.
Related information…