Seventy years, another commemoration

Today our church choir, together with a Catholic choir, sang a special ecumenical service in The Hague to commemorate the bombing of the Bezuidenhout, a well-known residential area in The Hague which was bombed by mistake by the British. At least 500 people were killed, 400 were missing and a complete area was destroyed. Also the Anglican Church was destroyed together with three other churches. The bombing of Rotterdam is quite well known, but The Hague and Nijmegen were also badly hit by bombs. Two weekends ago I sang with the ECS choir in Coventry Cathedral, also commemorating the war, namely the bombing of Dresden 70 years ago, in a British town which itself had its heart destroyed by bombs at the beginning of the war. Coventry Cathedral is now a symbol of reconciliation, hope and peace. One of their crosses is the cross of nails, a cross made of huge nails which were found amongst the burnt rafters of the old cathedral after the bombing. That cross is used as a symbol of peace and hope. Many churches share that cross and have a replica. What I did not know is that this church in the “Bezuidenhout” has such a cross, which this morning was passed on to another church in The Hague. Apart from the mayor of The Hague and mayors from neighbouring towns and suburbs, as well as representatives of a protestant, Catholic and our Anglican church in The Hague, the Dean of Coventry Cathedral was also present, leading us in prayers and telling something about the mission of reconciliation of Coventry Cathedral. It was good to speak briefly with him, and a surprise to meet him again after just two weeks and after having him lead the services in Coventry Cathedral where we sang. The Hague and Coventry are not twinned as far as I know, but The Hague has a similar function as Coventry Cathedral, it is a city of justice and peace. The Peace Palace, the International Court of Justice, is not far from this particular church, as well as the International Criminal Court. The latter a permanent tribunal which prosecutes individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. So there are many links, all born out of war and conflict.

It was a moving service this morning, partly in Dutch, partly in English. Apparently there were people in church who were eyewitnesses of the bombing and had survived, losing dear ones. The church is a modern one, built in the fifties or early sixties, a church I used to go to regularly when I still lived at home. It was packed this morning. One wall in the church was decorated with 500 yellow tulips in remembrance of the 500 people who were killed. It was a privilege to be able to be there and contribute to the ceremony by singing in this amalgamated choir.