Memorial to the Fallen 1940-1945, War memorial and sculpture at Stadhuisplein, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Memorial to the Fallen 1940-1945 is a bronze sculpture on Rotterdam's Stadhuisplein featuring four human figures standing together on a large stone base. The group shows two men, a woman with bowed head, and a child positioned in the public space between the old City Hall and Lijnbaan shopping street.
Mari Andriessen created this memorial in 1957 to remember the citizens who died during the German bombing of Rotterdam between 1940 and 1945. The sculpture was completed during the years when the city was rebuilding itself after the destruction and seeking to honor those who were lost.
The inscription at the base comes from Princess Wilhelmina's words upon returning from exile in England after the war. The four figures together show people across different ages standing united, reflecting how the community faced hardship as one.
The memorial stands in a central public plaza and is accessible at all times for visitors exploring downtown Rotterdam. The location is easy to find since many other attractions in the city center are close by.
One of the male figures holds a shovel, symbolizing reconstruction and rebuilding after destruction, while the other figures express grief and resolve. This layering of different meanings within a single sculpture creates a powerful statement about how communities move forward after loss.
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