{"id":142619,"date":"1946-07-13T20:00:00","date_gmt":"1946-07-13T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oudaalten.nl\/niet-gecategoriseerd\/commemorative-window-in-the-oosterkerk\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T19:14:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T17:14:42","slug":"commemorative-window-in-the-oosterkerk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/area\/monuments\/commemorative-window-in-the-oosterkerk\/","title":{"rendered":"Commemorative Window in the Oosterkerk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"Gedenkraam<\/span>
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The Oosterkerk in Aalten houses a monumental stained-glass window dating from 1946. The window was gifted by a committee from the Reformed Church of Rotterdam-Kralingen, on behalf of the churches and the Jewish community, as a token of thanks for the assistance provided by the people of Aalten during World War II to those in hiding (onderduikers), Jewish fellow citizens, the starving, and hundreds of children from Rotterdam. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rev.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Rev. Thomas Delleman (1898\u20131977) <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Delleman (1898\u20131977) served as a minister in Aalten from 1930 to 1938 before moving to Rotterdam-Kralingen. Following the Bombing of Rotterdam<\/a> in May 1940, he took the initiative to arrange for children from his new parish to stay in Aalten for a holiday. During the war years, a total of approximately 800 children from Rotterdam were taken in by host families in Aalten<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delleman contributed in other ways as well. He ensured that young men wishing to evade the Arbeitseinsatz<\/a> (forced labour) could go into hiding<\/a> in Aalten. Furthermore, in 1943, around 500 evacuees from Scheveningen were accommodated in Aalten. During the ‘Hunger Winter’, trains carrying food<\/a> regularly departed from Aalten for the west of the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This dedication made a profound impression in Rotterdam and led to the formation of a committee after the liberation to thank the people of Aalten.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Origin of the Commemorative Window<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Initially, the intention was to place the window in the Westerkerk<\/a>, as more than forty young men had been arrested there during a roundup (razzia) in 1944<\/a>. However, all the windows in the Oosterkerk had been shattered after a V1 rocket landed nearby in January 1945. Consequently, it was decided to install the window in the Oosterkerk instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The window was designed by the Rotterdam artist Marius Richters<\/a> (1878\u20131955) and executed by glazier Henri van Lamoen<\/a> (1900\u20131949). With a height of eight metres and a width of over three metres, it is one of the largest stained-glass windows in the Achterhoek. Richters utilised bold colours and clear, almost narrative scenes that express both the threat of war and the warmth of the relief efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The window was installed in the front facade of the Oosterkerk and officially unveiled by Rev. Delleman on 13 July 1946. The ceremony was broadcast live on the radio by the NCRV. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Design<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The window is over eight metres high and three metres wide, set within a trifora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Commemorative\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Commemorative window, Oosterkerk, Aalten<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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