Tours 
Last week, artist Nils Westergard worked on a new mural. The artwork on Valkenierslaan is a reminder of the former Moederheil transit home. With his recognisable, powerful style – often with a touch of gold – a painful history is made visible.
Until the late 1960s, Moederheil was the largest transit home in the Netherlands. Transit homes were maternity hospitals for unwed mothers. Women and girls who were deemed unable to care for their child or for whom the shame of having a child was too great. After giving birth, they had to immediately give up their child for adoption, often without any further contact. In the 20th century, between 15,000 and 25,000 children were given up for adoption in the Netherlands.
Artwork
Belgian-American artist Nils Westergard has had many conversations with the group of people involved who fought for the creation of this Blind Wall. The conversations inspired him to create a work of art that reflects this painful past. The common denominator in the personal stories, was the moment of separation between mother and child. This is symbolised in the mural by a broken golden cord and two hands: one of the mother and one of the child, both with cord on their wrists breaking at the corner of the wall. By placing the hands separately on different sides of the wall, the stories can also be viewed separately, just as all the stories of those involved are unique.
The group involved includes a mother who was forced to relinquish her child in 1969 and five people who were born and relinquished in Moederheil. About the mural, they say, ‘What was not to be seen was made invisible. What was not to be heard was silenced. This mural depicts our history. The moment of irrevocable separation visibly and tangibly recorded in the middle of this city. So that what happened here in this place has a chance to heal.’
Unveiling
On Friday 20 September, mayor Paul Depla and councillor Marike de Nobel unveiled this new Blind Wall with attendees. Adjacent to the site where the clinic used to stand, you will now find this special work of art. Mayor Paul Depla: ‘A painful history took place on this spot that is hard to imagine nowadays. The stories of those involved, both mothers and children who were born in the clinic, had a great impact and went unheard for a long time. That is why it is good that this Blind Wall is there now, it calls attention to the stories that took place in our city and that we are allowed to dwell on.’
This mural was created through close cooperation between the Moederheil mural working group, Stadsarchief Breda and Blind Walls Gallery, with the cooperation of Gemeente Breda.
