Paardengraf Ameland, Memorial funerary structure in Hollum, Netherlands.
Paardengraf Ameland is a memorial located in the dunes south of Hollum, featuring a Swedish granite stone that stands roughly 80 centimeters high and 100 centimeters wide. An inscription on the stone records the exact date and circumstances of the event that led to this memorial being placed.
The memorial commemorates a tragic event on August 14, 1979, when eight horses drowned during the launch of a rescue boat attempting to aid the German yacht Windspiel 4 off the coast. This event marked a turning point in how rescue operations were conducted in this coastal area.
Visitors place flowers and personal messages at this site, keeping alive the memory of the drowned horses through their gestures. This practice shows how the local community and travelers continue to honor what happened here.
The memorial is located east of Reddingbootpad in the dunes and can be reached on foot along local paths. The site is most accessible during clear weather when you can easily read the inscription and appreciate the surroundings.
A tile artwork by artist Barbara Hofker created in 2011 depicts the horse-drawn rescue boat operations that remained in use at this location until 1988. This artistic work preserves knowledge of a historical rescue method that is almost entirely forgotten elsewhere.
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