We were reconnected this afternoon with this street that is such an integral part of our history. Connected with all fellow citizens who were told they should not exist. Before everyone goes home, I’d like to share a piece from Willem Wilmink’s poem een foto (‘a photo’).
In it, he describes the iconic photo of the raid.
A frightened man in nice shoes,
Long coat and bowtie
Is herded across the square
Under a mournful sky
Three smiling Germans watch
Like it’s a game
And there, a fourth soldier
Looks away, perhaps in shame.
Imagine you saw this photo
Of the man with a bowtie
And suddenly you meet
Your own father’s eye
I sometimes also wonder
How the other son is doing
Who discovered: look, my father
Is the soldier oohing
Have a great Sunday
Marga van Praag (Amsterdam, 1946) was the face of the NOS Jeugdjournaal for decades. Generations of children grew up with her, and with her clear and warm diction she helped countless new inhabitants of the Netherlands understand our language better. She also presented the regular news broadcasts for many years. In addition, she made special reports for the 8 o'clock news. Her unconventional approach was considered controversial.