The four Vlissingen-based Damen companies came together on 4 May 2023 to commemorate the victims of the Second World War. A total of 83 employees of Koninklijke Maatschappij de Schelde (the Royal Schelde Shipyard) lost their lives during the war years. Their names are on the monument in front of the entrance of the Damen Naval headquarters on De Willem Ruysstraat. A wreath of flowers is laid at noon every year and two minutes of silence are observed.

Every year, representatives of one of the four Damen companies lay the wreath. This time it was the turn of Michiel de Vliegher, the new Managing Director of Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen (DSV), and Djordje Kostic, the chairman of the DSV works council.

Every year at noon, a floral wreath is laid and two minutes of silence are observed. Every year at noon, a floral wreath is laid and two minutes of silence are observed.

Managing Director Arnold Suykerbuyk represented Damen Schelde Marine Services, HSSEQ Manager Bert Beckers was there on behalf of Damen Yachting and from Damen Naval, Managing Director Roland Briene, several MT members and around 100 employees attended the commemoration.

The ‘Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde’ monument was unveiled on 16 November 1946 and consists of six bronze plaques. The middle plaque features an image of a tree and a poem by A. den Doolaard. On either side are four plaques with the names of Schelde employees who died during the war years. There is also a smaller plaque bearing the names of seven employees who went missing during the war years.

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