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Draft:Liberation Monument Lekkerkerk

Coordinates: 51°53′42.32″N 4°41′0.2″E / 51.8950889°N 4.683389°E / 51.8950889; 4.683389
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Liberation Monument
Map
51°53′42.32″N 4°41′0.2″E / 51.8950889°N 4.683389°E / 51.8950889; 4.683389
LocationKerkplein
MaterialLimestone
Width80 cm
Height165 cm

The Liberation Monument in the Dutch town of Lekkerkerk is a monument commemorating the Liberation of the Netherlands from German occupation.

Background

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In late 1954, there was a desire to erect a memorial in Lekkerkerk. The Rotterdam sculptor Hank Hans was commissioned in 1955 to create a design. When the execution of the design was delayed, the municipality took legal action in 1958, holding Hans accountable. She explained that due to family illness and a temporary stay abroad, she had not been able to complete the work. The sculpture was eventually finished and unveiled on Liberation Day in 1959 by Mayor M.J. Muller. It depicts "two figures bowed towards each other, with a defeated bird of prey at their feet. With joint effort, they have overcome the enemy, and the regained freedom keeps them united".[1] The war monument is located next to the entrance of the Grote of Johanneskerk.

In 1995, the sculpture 50 years of freedom by Jan de Graaf was placed near the town hall (later relocated to the Baanderspark).

Description

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The monument features a group of two life-size men, with a dead eagle between them. The group is made of French limestone and stands on a simple concrete pedestal.

References

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  1. ^ "Lekkerkerk is waiting impatiently", Het Vrije Volk, September 3, 1958; "Sculptor willing to complete statue", Het Vrije Volk, September 4, 1958; "Lekkerkerk finally has its liberation monument", Het Vrije Volk, May 6, 1959.

51°53′42.32″N 4°41′0.2″E / 51.8950889°N 4.683389°E / 51.8950889; 4.683389