Monument voor alle gevallenen 1940 1945

The Monument voor alle Gevallenen is dedicated to the victims of World War II and holds a prominent position in Stadhuisplein Square.

It was designed by Mari Andriessen in 1956, and on its front side, the words “Present, Past, and Future” are inscribed.

Depicting two men, a woman, and a child, the monument symbolizes the collective experience of the post-war years. The woman represents the pain of the past, while the man with a shovel embodies optimism and the spirit of reconstruction for the future. The other man and the child bridge the gap between these two perspectives.

On the base of the monument, the phrase “Stronger through struggle” is engraved, a motto embraced by Rotterdam and incorporated into the city’s coat of arms.

On the opposite side of the pedestal, a poem by Clara Eggink can be found: “The work that lies ahead demands strength. We must leave behind the devastation and rebuild. Just as seagulls flock to your ports, the will to live returns. Your prosperity is built upon the untimely graves of those unable to rebuild. Remember those who perished, and future generations will savor the taste of freedom.”

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