Donating the Mathieu
Clement collection to the Philips archives
December 6 marks exactly eighty years since the bombing of Eindhoven on St. Nicholas Day in 1942. Allied Operation Oyster turned the Eindhoven city center and part of Woensel into hell.
Eighty years later, we reflect on this disaster with a facade exhibition at the Philips Museum and a unique guided outdoor tour to the memorial.
Outdoor tour
To commemorate the tragic St. Nicholas Day of 1942, now 80-years ago, there will be a memorial ceremony at the Oyster monument on Tuesday, December 6, to which all residents are welcome.
The Philips Museum is hosting a guided tour to the "Oyster" memorial every day during that week from December 7 to 11 at 2:30 p.m. This oyster monument has stood near the Lichttoren, the former Philips factory building, on Mathildelaan since 2011.
The monument is a sculpture created by Eindhoven artist Peter Nagelkerke and depicts the devastated war scene with its impact on the inhabitants, the city center, and the Philips Light Tower, among others.
The bombardment is represented by a hole in the top of the oyster. And thus symbolizes the Allied mission of which the bombing of Eindhoven was part.
Case exhibition
Besides the outdoor tour, the temporary facade exhibition at the Philips Museum can be visited. The photos show the destruction of the Philips buildings around the Emmasingel and Strijp S and of the city center.
Sign up for an outside tour
You can register for an outdoor guided tour on December 7 to 11 at info-museum@philips.com. Participation in the tour and viewing the facade exhibition is free of charge.
There is room for 20 people per tour. The walk starts at 2:30 p.m. and participants can gather in front of the museum door by the facade exhibit.
Operation Oyster
The British operation "Operation Oyster" targeted the Philips factories on the Emmasingel and at Strijp S, because here, among other things, radio and transmission tubes were produced for the German war industry. However, many of the Royal Air Force bombs also hit other buildings, such as homes and stores.
At the time of the bombing, many families were celebrating St. Nicholas at home, which was abruptly ended by low-flying planes.
In all, there were 149 civilian casualties. Also killed were 16 English crew members of four planes that crashed in Eindhoven and 7 German soldiers, who were at an anti-aircraft gun on a Philips building on Willemstraat.*
(*Source: September 18 Foundation)
Read more
Also read the story about 'The tragic Saint Nicholas Day of 1942'.
