How many stories can a single monument tell? Here at the Lancaster Monument Houtrakpolder, we see a convergence of tragedy and remembrance. This memorial stands as a testament to a fateful night during World War II. It marks the spot where an English Lancaster bomber crashed.
The Lancaster Monument Houtrakpolder is a place to remember the night of January 30, 1944. On this night a Lancaster bomber, JB659, met its tragic end. German fighters shot it down above the Houtrakpolder. The plane crashed onto the Van der Bijl family farmhouse. The crash killed all seven crew members. It also killed six members of the Van der Bijl family.
Imagine the scene. The Lancaster penetrated eight metres into the ground. The impact and fire made recovery difficult. The bodies of the Van der Bijl family were recovered. Two crew members were also found. They were buried at Zwanenburg cemetery. But five crew members remained lost to the earth.
After the war, the owner rebuilt the farm on the same site. Years later, Amsterdam needed new industrial sites. Plans arose to construct a new harbor. The farm was demolished in 2000. This allowed for the recovery of the remaining crew and aircraft parts.
In May 2000, recovery operations began. It lasted three months. The remains of the crew and parts of the aircraft surfaced. The mayor of Amsterdam proposed a memorial. A propeller was placed centrally between two walls. This indicates the direction of the aircraft’s return flight from Berlin.
The Lancaster Monument Houtrakpolder now stands on this ground. It features a propeller with bent blades. It sits on a stainless steel pillar and a natural stone base. A metal plaque bears a message. It is a tribute to those who perished. The walls of grey brick embrace the base on either side. The monument is on a small circular square.
The Lancaster Monument Houtrakpolder text reads: “In memoriam. On 30st January 1944, an Allied Lancaster bomber, JB 659, crashed at this site, which was then the farm of the Van der Bijl family. Six members of the family and the seven crew members perished.” The memorial was unveiled on November 28, 2001.
The seven crew members who died are buried at Zwanenburg cemetery. The Van der Bijl family rests at the cemetery of the R.K. church Onze Lieve Vrouwe Geboorte. The Lancaster Monument Houtrakpolder is more than just a memorial. It is a place where the stories of the past meet the present. It reminds us of the cost of war. It honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Look around you and remember their stories.