Resilience, fighting spirit and suppressed anger

In the park opposite Dorpshuis De Wieken in Hulshorst stands this bronze group of statues, placed in memory of those who fell in the battle for freedom.
It is a bronze group of statues with three figures with their backs to each other. The three figures each take a different position. The first has its arms crossed, the second has its chest pushed forward and raises its head. The third has drooping shoulders but clenched fists. Dirk Verheij wanted to portray the steadfastness, fighting spirit and suppressed anger of man. He strove for a monument that radiates strength towards the future. The three figures symbolize a trinity, which, because they are in a triangle, is difficult to approach. They are each other’s back, a unity. The steadfastness is depicted by the figure with its arms crossed. The figure with its head raised and its chest forward radiates fighting spirit. The suppressed anger is depicted by the third figure.

The design is by Dirk Verheij (1953) and the execution is by visual artist Camille van Os (1961). The pedestal is made of stainless steel. A plate of Belgian bluestone has a simple neutral inscription. The monument was unveiled on 29 April 2008 by mayor Dick van Hemmen and Wijnand Kooymans of the Hulshorst Neighbourhood Association. The annual 4 May commemoration takes place at this monument.