February Strike Monument, Zaandam

The February Strike Monument in Zaandam, located within the municipality of Zaanstad, commemorates the historic events of the February strike that took place on February 25th and 26th in the year 1941. This strike originally began in Amsterdam and subsequently spread to various locations, including the Zaanstreek region, Haarlem, Velsen, Weesp, Hilversum, and the city of Utrecht. It marked a significant turning point in Dutch history as the first large-scale resistance action against the German occupiers during World War II. Importantly, it also stood as the sole massive and public protest against the persecution of Jews in occupied Europe during that time.

The catalyst for the strike was the initial wave of arrests targeting hundreds of Jewish men in Amsterdam. The illegal Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN) played a pivotal role in initiating and organizing this strike, rallying people under the motto 'STRIKE!!! STRESS!!! STRESS!!!'

The 'February strike' monument in Zaandam consists of a small bronze group of statues. Within this group, one of the figures is depicted carrying a bicycle. These statues are prominently placed on the balustrade of the Wilhelminasluis, a canal lock. Below the statue, a bronze memorial plaque is affixed to the wall. The group of statues measures 50 centimeters in height, 70 centimeters in width, and 40 centimeters in depth.

This monument serves as a poignant reminder of the courageous actions taken by ordinary citizens during a critical period in Dutch history, standing up against oppression and persecution in defense of human rights and dignity.