Beluister hierboven in twee minuten het verhaal achter de struikelsteen voor Antonius Nieuwenhuisen.
Meer over de geschiedenis van Toon Nieuwenhuisen: https://www.triplers.nl/nieuwenhuisen/
🇬🇧 Transcript: The “Stolperstein” for Antonius Nieuwenhuisen
The “Stolperstein” for Antonius (Toon) Nieuwenhuisen lies in front of the entrance to his bicycle workshop, which played an important role in the early resistance.
47-year-old Toon Nieuwenhuisen was arrested on March 13, 1942. He is detained in prison in Scheveningen, near The Hague.
As early as December 1940, nine men from Gouda put their heads together to discuss how they could take action against the German occupiers. This results in a triumvirate who will lead the resistance group, which includes Nieuwenhuisen.
As a metal craftsman, he mainly deals with weapon repair, as well as ammunition and weapon maintenance. His workshop becomes a meeting place and headquarters of the resistance group. And when in 1941 resistance contacts are also made outside of Gouda, it also became the main address for couriers of the later “Ordedienst” and a nationally operating Intelligence Service.
When captured by the occupier, his relations to other resistance movements are proven, but his involvement with weapons and ammunition is not. He is sentenced to imprisonment as long as the war lasts, which is later also called “long-term death penalty”.
After having been placed in several prisons and camps, he was transferred to Natzweiler concentration camp, not far from Strasbourg, at the end of October 1943.
The horrific regime there has resulted in many sick, injured and dead. Nieuwenhuisen too suffered severely.
In September 1944 the camp was evacuated and Nieuwenhuisen was transported to Dachau. After a short stay in Dautmergen concentration camp, he returns to Dachau. There he succumbed to illness and exhaustion on December 11, 1944, six days before his 50th birthday.
With the “Stolperstein” in front of the entrance to his former workshop, Toon Nieuwenhuisen is commemorated and honored for his fight for freedom, for which paid the ultimate price.
More about the history of Toon Nieuwenhuisen: https://www.triplers.nl/nieuwenhuisen-english/
(photo: archive SV DONK)
(photo own collection)
