The monument Oterdum
The artist M. Meesters created a hand as a monument, which seems to call a halt to the advancing industry and against the ever-threatening water. In the hand the church of Oterdum.
The hand is placed in the center of the former church tower.
The current grave monuments, which were located around the church, were measured and removed during the dike raising. The graves remained in their original location and after the dike raising the grave monuments were placed back, a few meters higher, above the original graves.
The grave of Rev. Johannes Toxopeus (1606 - 1666), minister in Oterdum, was found during the demolition of the church under the floor, under the pulpit, of the church. The current grave monument is therefore the only one located within the former contours of the church building. The original gravestone was transferred from here to the NH Church in Woldendorp in 2004.
The original grave text
ANNO 1666 DEN 3 OCTOBER IS DEN GODSALIGE EN WEL GELEERDEN JOHANNES TOXOPOEUS PASTOR TOT OTERDUM SIJNES OLDERDOOMS ONGEVEER 60 EN SIJNES PREDIGAMTS 32 JAER SEER CHRISTELICK GESTORVENEN LEIT ALHIER B'GRAVEN
The graves around the former church. On the sketch below from 1965, the graves, as they were situated around the church, are sketched by the surveyor, Mr. Meijer of Provinciale Waterstaat. This sketch was used to be able to place the graves back in their original positions after the dike was raised.
