Memorial Haaren 1940-1945 - Haaren

In Haaren this memorial site commemorates the Second World War. Before the building took on a role in the war, it housed the former Groot Seminarie ’s Hertogenbosch, a Catholic seminary.

The secluded life of the theology students was abruptly interrupted when, on 8 September 1941, the German occupiers requisitioned the seminary. From that moment on it became the location of the Polizei und Untersuchungsgefängnis Lager Haaren. The students moved to the Mariaoord in Vught, but that monastery was also requisitioned in 1942. Meanwhile, the building in Haaren functioned as a prison and hostage camp.

Three groups of prisoners were held here. About 1800 people were imprisoned for Untersuchung. In addition, around 1400 parachutists, pilots, resistance members, escaped prisoners and people in hiding were detained. On 13 July 1942, another 600 well-known Dutch citizens were added, who served the same purpose as the hostages in Camp Sint-Michielsgestel.

Among the hostages were 150 business leaders, 60 professors and teachers, 60 clergy, 133 people from the liberal professions, 103 civil servants, 3 trade union leaders and 5 students. On 15 August 1942 and 16 October 1942, a total of 85 hostages from Haaren were executed.

Around 4000 people were imprisoned in Camp Haaren. The last prisoners left in 1944 when Haaren was liberated.

At the initiative of two former prisoners, a memorial site was established in this former prison to ensure this dark period is not forgotten. The entrance consists of a monumental gateway called “De Poort der Zuchten”.

In 2019 a large fire broke out here, leaving the building in ruins. The museum of the Stichting Gedenkplaats Haaren that was located in the seminary has been temporarily relocated to the former town hall of Haaren.