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“Because we are Sinti and Roma” “So that they will never be forgotten” 

In 2006, this monument commemorating Sinti and Roma victims of World War II was unveiled by then-Mayor Deetman and two relatives of the victims. The monument consists of a bronze cube featuring a plaque inscribed with names.  

Since May 4, 2026, names have been corrected and added to the monument. This was done in response to questions raised by the city council. The city engaged in discussions with stakeholders, including members of the Roma and Sinti community and the Zeeheldenkwartier neighborhood committee. Together, they explored how the names on the monument could be corrected and supplemented. The monument is now more complete and inclusive. That is why it now also bears the names of all murdered Sinti and Roma who were registered in The Hague or were arrested here. In addition, the wish of the relatives to incorporate more symbolism into the monument was expressed. A symbol with significance for Sinti and Roma has been added to each side.   

How were the correct names identified? Tracing the names and life stories of Sinti and Roma from The Hague was no easy task. The information is scattered across various archives and is often incomplete and contradictory. The book The Hague Sinti and Roma by Peter Jorna served as the starting point. Jorna describes how Sinti and Roma lived in and around The Hague before the war, what happened to them during the occupation, and what their situation was like after the war. 

Sinti and Roma appear only sporadically in official records. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, the government attempted to register this group. Census takers visited trailer parks to record detailed numbers, partly in connection with the Trailer Park Act and the Gypsy Central Office. The collected personal data was entered into the Central Population Register for persons without a fixed place of residence or domicile.  

Johan or Zoni? A key question was how the names should be listed. Sinti and Roma people generally do not use the names listed in official documents. They address each other in Romanes. The municipality attempted to contact all surviving relatives. Based on their responses, the monument lists the official names as recorded on the personal records in the municipal registry. This ensures the names remain traceable and can be located in archives.  

It was decided to use family composition and the address where families lived and/or were arrested as the primary criteria for the order. Furthermore, it turned out that family members with different last names were registered even though they had the same father and mother. A strictly alphabetical order was not followed out of respect for the family culture of the Roma and Sinti. 

The contributions of the victims’ relatives were of great importance throughout the entire process. In addition, we worked closely with the Hague Municipal Archives, always in close consultation with the Sinti and Roma community, to ensure that the memory of the victims will live on. 

The Hague Municipal Archives has published a report on the Sinti and Roma in The Hague. Request a printed copy from the Hague Municipal Archives or download the publication via the link below.