The rower monument

From October 1944, the Land of Maas and Waal was firmly in the hands of the Allies. The Tiel side of the Waal remained occupied territory until 5 May 1945. People from the resistance brought people across the river at great risk to their own lives. These were often Allied pilots or soldiers who had remained in the occupied part of the Netherlands after the Battle of Arnhem.

The resistance fighters who carried out this work were given the name 'Waalcrossers'. Many died by drowning or after falling into German hands. A well-known example was Leo Wilkens (1920-1945). He drowned on the night of 15-16 March 1945.

Leen Papo (1917-1995) was one of the Waalcrossers who did survive. He was the model for the monument in 1995. He was present - already seriously ill - at the unveiling, and died a short time later.

The statue was made by Willem den Ouden and Aart Schonk. It was placed in 1995 near the village of Zennewijnen. On the pedestal is a poem by Willem van Toorn:

Then freedom lay on the other side

For those who had the courage to cross over.

There's a warning sign of them, right here-

to those who attack them in this free land:

the spirit of freedom, the freedom to speak.