HAL-monument, War memorial at Stadhuisplein, Netherlands
The HAL-monument comprises six metal rectangles with inscriptions and year markings, positioned on a triangular gravel area near the Maritime Museum. Three flagpoles behind the structure mark and define the memorial site.
The monument was erected in 2010 to honor 264 Holland-America Line employees who died between 1940 and 1945 during World War II. It marks remembrance of that shipping company's losses and its connection to Rotterdam's wartime history.
The memorial honors Holland-America Line workers lost during World War II, connecting the city's maritime business with their fate. Visitors can see individual names on the plaques and sense how much this place matters to families and the shipping community.
The site is located at Stadhuisplein, directly near the Maritime Museum and easily reached on foot. The memorial stands in the open air and is always accessible, so visitors can stop by at any time.
The memorial displays the names of all 264 deceased employees on its metal plaques, creating a direct connection between visitors and individual people. This personal dimension turns the site into a place where history becomes tangible through names.
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