Unveiling of the Ton van der Pol commemorative plaque in downtown Voorschoten
A cheerful “hi,” a waving hand, always a big smile. And a tremendous love for the Sinterklaas celebration. Who didn’t know Ton van der Pol? This remarkable resident of Voorschot, who passed away two years ago, was honored today with a commemorative bench on Schoolstraat.
In the presence of family and friends, Mayor Stemerdink unveiled the commemorative plaque—a beautiful metal plaque on the bench at the beginning of Schoolstraat. It bears Ton’s name, his dates of birth and death, and a QR code. By scanning this QR code, passersby are directed to a page on the municipal website where they can read more about Ton.
Mayor Stemerdink: “Everyone in Voorschoten knew Ton van der Pol. Every day he would walk and bike through the village, waving and smiling at everyone. I first met Ton in the summer, a few months after I took office. He came up to me and asked if the Sinterklaas parade was going to take place this time. Later, I heard that he was Sinterklaas’s biggest fan in Voorschoten. After his passing, a community initiative arose to organize something special in Ton’s honor. We thought that was a wonderful idea and gesture. And that’s how the idea came about to create this bench for special residents of Voorschoten like Ton. In the future, there will be space next to this plaque for Ton to honor many others in memoriam.”
Memory Bench
The commemorative plaque for Ton van der Pol on the memorial bench is the first of many. Residents can now nominate fellow villagers for this commemorative spot. This can be done via www.voorschoten.nl/herdenken-bekende-voorschotenaren. This page also contains more information about the memorial bench. If a request is approved, the municipality will place a plaque with a QR code on the bench. In this way, the bench on Schoolstraat can gradually become a memorial to notable residents of Voorschoten who have enriched the community.
Ton van der Pol’s biography can be read at www.voorschoten.nl/biografieen.
