This is a special place, something to think about! In World War II, 5 hostages were shot here by the German occupiers.
It was an execution in retaliation for an attack by the Rotterdam resistance.
5 innocent people were murdered here on August 15, 1942 to ensure that the people would not support the resistance. Forester van Heerebeek discovered the execution at the time and, together with Mr. van Puijenbroek, was still investigating when the Germans were away. The grave was only excavated after the war and the bodies were recovered. The poles to which the hostages were tied had also been thrown into the grave. These posts are still on display in the museum of 't Heem on the new Rielseweg.
The five hostages were: Mr Robert Baelde (35 years), Willem Ruys (47 years), Otto Ernst Gelder (49 years), Christoffel Bennekers (48 years) and Alexander, Baron Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (29 years).
The two men of nobility, Schimmelpenninck van der Oye and Graaf van Limburg Stirum are actually buried at the execution site at Gorp & Roovert; the other three are not, who have been handed over to their families and buried in their hometown….
Source: Goolse secrets.