Martin van het Spoor

In the first period of the siege, the Burgertroepen fought a fierce battle for Zuid and Centrum –Zuid (South and downtown-south). For weeks they were able to maintain positions. The Burgertroepen were composed of volunteers from about anywhere. Several people of this paramilitary organization, defended the city with their lives.
On the Oude Dijk, some students of the Academie voor Beeldende Vorming (Academy for the Arts), also picked up arms.

Oude Dijk

One of these students was a musician of the Rockacademie (Rock Academy). Martin van het Spoor swapped his instrument for a sniper rifle. For days he prevented troops to enter the building and protect his fellow students and other refugees. He was killed when his spot was shelled with mortars.

Fellow students began working on a memorial for Martin, right below the place where he fought. So far they haven’t been able to finish the painting because of the shootings by other snipers. Below you can see a detail of the monument.

Martin van het Spoor monument