Gouda, South Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Toon Pille

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 21, 2025

1. Toon Pille Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Hier viel op 30 september 1914
in dienst van zijn vaderland
Toon Pille
23 jaar oud

Here on September 30, 1944 fell Toon Pille in the service of his Fatherland. He was 23 years old.

Erected 1946.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is September 30, 1944.

Location. 52° 1.093′ N, 4° 42.441′ E. Memorial is in Gouda, Zuid-Holland (South Holland). It is on Burgemeester Jamessingel west of Spoorstraat, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: Burgemeester Jamessingel 1, Gouda, Zuid-Holland 2803 WV, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Benelux Low Countries,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire

and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Station onder vuur en een bommenregen / Station Under Fire and a Rain of Bombs (about 120 meters away, measured

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in a direct line); Nathan Jacob Cats (approx. half a kilometer away); Kazerne / Barracks (approx. half a kilometer away); Vluchtoord Gouda / Place of Refuge Gouda 1914-1919 (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Agnietenkapel / Saint Agatha Chapel (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Bank de wed. Knox and Dortland / Bank of the Widow Knox and Dortland (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Woonhuis voogd Erasmus / Home of Erasmus’ Guardian (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Turfmarkt 54, 54a en 56 (approx. 0.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gouda.

Also see . . . Gouda, Monument voor Toon Pille (Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei, in Dutch). Notes that this is not the original memorial, which was originally placed a little bit to the west, but was removed during street modifications and then replaced with this new version in 2012. Excerpt (in translation):

Anthonie Hendrikus Pille was born on August 18, 1921. When the war broke out, Pille joined the resistance through the Youth Association of the Reformed Church. He was primarily concerned with passing messages to other resistance fighters and to people in hiding.

On the
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 21, 2025

2. Toon Pille Marker - wide view
The marker is set in the pavement in front of the Gouda municipal building.
morning of September 29, 1944, Pille brought a list of names of people in hiding to the resistance in Bleiswijk. Shortly thereafter, SS officer Balvert, also known as "the terror of Gouda," asked for Pille in Waddinxveen. An 11-year-old girl tried in vain to warn Pille. Pille was arrested in Van der Oest's workshop along with two friends. The detainees were taken to the control room of the Waddinxveen drawbridge, where they were interrogated. The two boys were allowed to leave, but Pille was transferred to the Sicherheitsdienst office in Gouda.

On September 30, 1944, a railway guard heard an altercation and shots fired. Later, several men found Toon Pille's body, pierced by nine bullets.

(Submitted on July 10, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 62 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 10, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.