9 januari 2018

The Hell of Jipsinghuizen

Less than a century ago -in 1924- the province of Groningen started an unemployment relief programme to provide jobs for the many people who needed work in those days. It wasn't on a voluntary basis though; in and around a hamlet called Jipsinghuizen men were forced to dig the barren land, and for very little money. The conditions were so bad and dramatic that it became known as 'the hell of Jipsinghuizen'.

This sculpture, also called 'The Hell of Jipsinghuizen', stands across the former tram station where the workers arrived. It expresses the desperation of the past and the hope for a new tomorrow. It was made by Dutch sculptor Eddy Roos (1949).

9 opmerkingen:

  1. Your photo shows a very picturesque spot, but what a harsh piece of history associated with it.
    Very cool sculpture !

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  2. ...an interesting sculpture and name!

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  3. I like the sculpture. The name has some harsh memories associated with the area, maybe it will change someday to reflect a better time.

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  4. Fascinating! And a most interesting sculpture. I wish we could somehow move on from "hope for tomorrow," to the realization of that hope. Tomorrow seems to come and go and everything remains the same. At least that's the way it is here except that under Trump hope has become impossible and survival is the mode in which most of the U.S. is living!

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  5. Mooi beeld van een nauwelijks te torsten last.

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  6. Wist niet dat ze ook mensen naar Groningen hadden gestuurd, had alleen over Drente gelezen. Moet wel hard werken zijn geweest, arme mensen.

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  7. An impressive sculpture representing an oppressive time.
    Very interesting...

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