Indies Monument, War memorial in The Hague, Netherlands.
The Indies Monument is a memorial in The Hague made up of seventeen bronze figures arranged in a circle around a central shrine. The composition includes a map of Southeast Asia and multiple inscriptions that honor those who died.
The monument was opened by Queen Beatrix in 1988 to remember Dutch citizens and soldiers who died during the Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945. It came into being as an important place to honor this chapter in Dutch history.
The name references the former Dutch territories in Southeast Asia, and visitors can observe annual remembrance gatherings on August 15 when survivors and families come together at the site. These ceremonies show how the local community honors this period of history.
The site stands along Professor Teldersweg near Madurodam and is straightforward to visit. Most people combine a stop here with a visit to the nearby miniature park or with a walk through the neighborhood.
Soil from seven Indonesian war cemeteries rests in a special urn at the site, creating a direct link to the battlefields where so many died. A miniature replica of the monument also stands in the nearby Madurodam park, bringing this history to a different kind of visitor.
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