Manon de Groot removes the roadside monument for her mother in Veendam. Passers-by steal flower arrangements so often that De Groot no longer finds peace in the spot. Moreover, she is afraid that someone will steal the monument itself.
The black monument along Sorghvlietlaan in Veendam will disappear, Manon de Groot (27) and her family decided. The memorial is located in the green strip, right next to the zebra crossing where De Groot’s mother was hit in 2020. The family found comfort and peace at the post. It gave them the feeling that mother Rita was involved in special moments, such as holidays, birthdays and Christmas. Laying flowers, stopping for a moment or passing by were both part of it.
But the Christmas period was a low point. Twice, Christmas pieces placed by family and loved ones were stolen. De Groot’s psychologist suggested that she call on other Veendam residents to also put down a piece as support. Many people did that. “That was very sweet and also felt like a heartfelt encouragement.” Yet she did not go again.
Because some of the new pieces also disappeared. “I couldn’t muster up the courage to see what had been taken away.” She tried to do something about it. “I reported it to the police three times. They didn’t do anything with it three times because they didn’t have time to report it.” De Groot hoped that a camera could be installed. The police confirm the reports: “We know that the impact is very significant, but it is difficult for us to invest in this.” Without clues it is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
‘Extremely sad’
“If you take things away from roadside monuments, you don’t really have much life experience,” says Nelly Vollebregt, chairman of the Traffic Victims Association (VVS). The association represents the interests of road traffic victims and their loved ones. “You have no awareness at all, or do not want to have one, of the suffering of these people. Places like this give you strength. The fact that you take something away from there is absolutely intolerable.”
She cannot say how often it happens that a monument is removed due to vandalism or theft. She thinks each case is one too many: “This is extremely sad.”
‘Make rules so you can enforce’
Monuments are usually embraced by a ‘large community’. She is therefore not surprised that many Veendam residents offered support around Christmas. However, she is a great advocate of rules surrounding monuments, such as their dimensions, where they can be placed, how maintenance is arranged and also for what period they can remain standing. “That also ensures that you can enforce it if something goes wrong.”
Such rules have not yet been agreed nationally. More and more municipalities are coming up with their own rules. Veendam established these in November and they came into effect in December. The rules state, among other things, that a monument may stand for up to five years and that ornaments are required to be secured.
It no longer matters to Manon de Groot and her loved ones. She will soon remove the roadside monument and place it at home. “The way things are going, it won’t last. This doesn’t stop. I could see someone stealing the entire monument.”