Mayor Nadine Stemerdink Appoints Consul for the War Graves Foundation

Peter Woolderink, Inspector for the War Graves Foundation, and Mayor Nadine Stemerdink

In the Netherlands, 180,000 people are registered as war victims by the War Graves Foundation. These are men, women, and children who lost their lives during World War II or in violent conflicts that followed—such as in the former Dutch East Indies and during recent peacekeeping missions. The War Graves Foundation keeps the memory of these people alive by collecting and sharing their stories and by maintaining Dutch war graves all over the world.

Keep Telling Stories

“We must never forget what happened during World War II and in subsequent conflicts, and how precious freedom is,” says Mayor Nadine Stemerdink. “An important way to do that is by sharing the stories of war victims, especially those from our own community. We’re all familiar with the major cemeteries of honor, such as the one on the Grebbeberg. But there are also private war graves, including four graves near the Dorpskerk in Voorschoten. I’m glad that our new consul, together with the War Graves Foundation, is so committed to this cause.”

First Consul of Voorschoten

To ensure the preservation and maintenance of Dutch war graves, the War Graves Foundation relies on the consuls within the municipalities. They maintain the records, conduct annual inspections of the war graves, and inform the foundation of any plans for burials or renovations. The consuls also raise awareness of the War Graves Foundation’s work, for example in schools. With this appointment, the municipality of Voorschoten now has its own consul for the first time.