Death anniversary of resistance hero Anton de Kom officially commemorated for the first time in Loenen | Domestic

The commemoration was a citizens’ initiative of Apeldoornians Gerrit Steenbergen and Ben Brown and was attended by, among others, Mayor Ton Heerts of Apeldoorn and chairman Linda Nooitmeer of the National Institute for the Dutch Slavery History and Heritage (NiNsee).

Mayor Heerts is grateful to the Apeldoorn duo for their initiative. “It’s time that more people knew who this man was. And who he still is,” he said in a speech about De Kom. “For his voice still resonates for those who will listen.”

According to Heerts, De Kom’s grave in the honorary cemetery is a memory. “But let it also be a warning to us. To be truly free, connected to each other, in our diverse society, it is necessary that we know our history and come to terms with it. You can only turn a black page when you really know what it says.”

Nooitmeer pointed out in her speech that, in addition to his fight against social inequality, De Kom was also the first to enrich history with the perspective of the enslaved. According to her, that voice is often missing, while that legacy is worth continuing.

De Kom (1898-1945) fought for freedom and equality and against exploitation in Suriname and the Netherlands. In 1934 he published the book We slaves of Surinamean indictment against colonial rule and racism.

During the Second World War he joined the resistance in the Netherlands, but was arrested by the Germans. He died on April 24, 1945 in Sandbostel camp in Germany.

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