Tuin van Bezinning

The Tuin van Bezinning is a memorial monument in Zutphen designed as a garden dedicated to fallen police officers. Steel bands run along garden paths and display the names, birth dates, and death dates of officers who have died in service since 1946.

The memorial was inaugurated on March 21, 2006, by Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven at the police academy Huis 't Velde in Warnsveld. It was established as a national site to honor Dutch police officers who lost their lives while carrying out their duties.

The name 'Garden of Reflection' captures its purpose as a place where visitors come to remember and pay respects. The space creates a solemn setting where people naturally slow down to read names and consider the service of those honored here.

The site is open to the public and welcomes visitors to walk through the garden paths, where names are displayed on the steel bands for easy reading. A digital memorial book on a video column provides detailed information about the deceased officers, including photographs and biographical details.

The garden design was created by Poelmans Reesink Landscape Architecture and incorporates the Acanthus leaf motif throughout its layout. This botanical element ties together the visual appearance with the commemorative purpose, creating a thoughtfully designed space.