“A people that yields to tyrants will lose more than life and property. Then the light goes out…” These powerful words are etched onto the Van Randwijk-monument. This Amsterdam memorial honors Hendrik Mattheus van Randwijk. He was a key figure in the Dutch resistance during World War II.
The Van Randwijk-monument commemorates Van Randwijk’s courageous fight. He stood against the Nazi occupation. Van Randwijk was a protestant teacher, writer, poet, and literary critic. In 1941, his colleague Kooistra asked him to join the underground resistance. He agreed and became involved with the illegal publication Vrij Nederland.
By early 1942, Van Randwijk, using the alias Sjoerd van Vliet, became editor-in-chief of VN. It was a weekly publication. His vision went beyond fighting the occupiers. He wanted to restore Dutch democracy. Van Randwijk viewed the occupation as a cultural battle for a fairer society. This was more than just a political or economic crisis.
In 1943, disagreements arose among VN staff. Some members split off. They formed the orthodox ‘Trouw-groep’. This later became the daily newspaper.
During the occupation, Van Randwijk was arrested twice. He was arrested for sheltering Jewish citizens. Each time he managed to defend himself and was released. His ideas and resistance work made him the most wanted man in the Netherlands.
Van Randwijk remained editor-in-chief of Vrij Nederland until 1950 after the liberation. He resigned due to disagreements. These disagreements were about his criticism of the Labour Party’s position. This position regarded Indonesia’s independence. Henk van Randwijk died on May 7, 1966, at the age of 57.
The Van Randwijk-monument stands in the H.M. van Randwijkplantsoen. It is on the Weteringcircuit in Amsterdam. Ada van Randwijk-Henstra, Henk van Randwijk’s widow, unveiled the monument on May 4, 1970.
The Van Randwijk-monument is a memorial wall with white letters. These letters display a line from Van Randwijk’s poem ‘Bericht aan de levenden’. He wrote this poem in 1953. It was intended for a monument in Bloemendaal. Instead, a prose text of his with the same title was chosen.
The location of the Van Randwijk-monument is significant. It provides a space for reflection. It reminds us of the importance of standing up for what is right. It echoes Van Randwijk’s message. “A people that yields to tyrants will lose more than life and property. Then the light goes out…”