Jekerkwartier in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Grafmonument Dibbets / General Dibbets Grave Monument

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 26, 2023

1. Grafmonument Dibbets / General Dibbets Grave Monument Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Grafmonument Dibbets
Generaal Dibbets was in de periode van de Belgische Afscheiding van 1830 tot zijn overlijden in 1839 commandant van het garnizoen in Maastricht en hij heeft er voor gezorgd dat Maastricht niet door de Belgische opstandelingen werd ingenomen. Op 2 april 1839 werd Baron Dibbets met militaire eer begraven op de Algemene Begraafplaats aan de Tongerseweg. De pompeuse rouwstoet maakte veel indruk op de mensen. Twee maanden later werd Dibbets overgebracht naar het bastion aan de Boschpoort dat toen de naam Bastion Dibbets kreeg. Het was een hele eer om in de vestingwerken begraven te worden. Maar de Maastrichtse bevolking ging echter niet heel eerbiedig met dit graf om want jarenlang leefde bij het volk de traditie om op zondag, na de mis, over het graf van Dibbets te urineren om daarmee het ongenoegen te uiten over de door hem verrichte daden. In 1927 werd het grafmonument naar het terrein van de Tapijnkazerne overgebracht waar het veilig achter een hoog hek stond.

(English translation:)
General Dibbets Grave Monument
From the Belgian Secession

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in 1830 to his death in 1839, General Dibbets was the commander of the garrison in Maastricht, ensuring that Maastricht was not taken by attack by the Belgian rebels. After his death, he was buried with military honors on April 2, 1839, at the General Cemetery on Tongersweg. The funeral procession full of pomp made and a great impression on the people. Two months later, his body was transferred to the bastion at the Boschpoort, which was then renamed “Bastion Dibbets”. It was quite an honor to be buried in the fortifications. But the Maastricht population did not treat his grave very respectfully, as for years after there was a tradition among the people to go after mass and urinate on Dibbets' grave to express dissatisfaction with his actions. In 1927 his grave monument was transferred to the grounds of the Tapijn Barracks, protected by a high fence.

Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical date for this entry is April 2, 1839.

Location. 50° 50.533′ N, 5° 41.334′ E. Marker is in Maastricht, Limburg. It is in Jekerkwartier. Marker is on Sint Hubertuslaan, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Sint Hubertuslaan 12, Maastricht, Limburg 6212 AB, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Commandobunker Koude Oorlog / Cold War Command Bunker (here, next to this

Grafmonument Dibbets / General Dibbets Grave Monument - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 26, 2023

2. Grafmonument Dibbets / General Dibbets Grave Monument - wide view

The marker is mounted to a wooden kiosk-like arrangement that is set around what probably was at one time a guardhouse.

marker); Legeringsgebouw en messgebouw / Instructional Building and Mess Hall (a few steps from this marker); U.S. Ninth Army Headquarters (about 210 meters away, measured in a direct line); Huis in den Nieuwenhof / House on the Nieuwenhof (about 210 meters away); Hertogsmolen aan de Stadsmuur / The Duke’s Mill at the City Wall (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Stadsommuring / City Walls (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Eerste Stadsommuring / First City Wall (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Non Sum Qualis Eram (approx. half a kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maastricht.

More about this monument. The marker is located on the grounds of the former Tapijn Barracks, just inside the gate on Sint Hubertuslaan.

Also see . . .
1. History of Tapijn D2 Parade ground and Dibbets’ cenotaph (Natuurgluren).

Excerpt: On 2 April 1839, Baron Dibbets was buried with military honours at the General Cemetery on Tongerseweg. Two months later, he was transferred to bastion C outside the Bosch
G. Th. Delemarre (courtesy of Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, via Wikimedia Commons), 1962

3. Grafmonument Dibbets / General Dibbets Grave Monument
The monument is located about 160 meters to the west of the marker. (Image used under CC 4.0 license)
Gate, which was given the name of Dibbets Bastion. It was a great honour to be buried within the fortifications. But the people of Maastricht did not treat the grave with much respect, because tradition has it that, for years, it was custom for people to urinate on Dibbets’ grave on Sundays after Mass, in order to express their displeasure with his actions. In 1927, the monument was moved to the Tapijn Barracks, where it is safe behind a high fence. The remains of General Dibbets could then no longer be traced. When the barracks were to be named in 1934, ‘General Dibbets Barracks’ seemed to be an obvious choice because of the prominence of the monument. It seems the Ministry of War did not dare to do so because of the negative sentiments in the city.

(Submitted on December 12, 2023.)

2. Bernardus Johannes Cornelis Dibbets (Wikipedia, in Dutch).

Excerpt (in translation): Bernardus Johannes Cornelis Baron Dibbets (name is sometimes written as Dibbetz) (Arnhem, September 7, 1782 - Maastricht, March 29, 1839) was a Dutch lieutenant general of the infantry, commander-in-chief of the Maastricht fortress during the blockade of Maastricht and, among other things, a knight in the Military William Order Third Class.

(Submitted on December 12, 2023.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 47 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 5, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2, 3. submitted on December 12, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.