12 juli 2015

Oterdum cemetery

Oterdum was a small village once in the north east of the province of Groningen, halfway the towns of Delfzijl and Termunten. 200 people lived here near the dike. Then in the 1970s all farms, houses, as well as the church and cemetery (only the grave stones, the bodies were left) had to move for a new higher dike that would protect the rest of the province against the sea. Oterdum was no more.

Years later the grave stones, all dating from the 19th century, were re-placed at their original spot at the new dike. Some of the bigger grave stones have beautiful drawings and remember of the old times in a small fisherman's village.
We were passing here today and I'm glad we stopped to have a closer look. It's a remarkable place.

6 opmerkingen:

  1. What an interesting story and those are some unique graves. Have a great week. Greetings!

    BeantwoordenVerwijderen
  2. I have never seen anything like this...

    BeantwoordenVerwijderen
  3. Sounds like a remarkable place! The entire town getting moved is not common...

    BeantwoordenVerwijderen
  4. Inderdaad heel opmerkelijk. Ook de afbeelding op de zerken is overal hetzelfde. Een maker voor heel noord Groningen?

    BeantwoordenVerwijderen
  5. Wat een bijzondere plek en wat goed dat ze de grafstenen weer teruggeplaatst hebben op de dijk.

    BeantwoordenVerwijderen
  6. I find myself wondering if my father knows of this place. He spent time in that province while growing up.

    BeantwoordenVerwijderen

Don't be shy and leave a comment. I'd love to read what you think!