Monument to slain journalist honors his memory, ensures his murder will not be forgotten

The new Peter R. de Vries monument not only memorializes the crime reporter and his work, but also ensures that the "inhuman crime" of his murder is not forgotten, said Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema at the unveiling of the artwork on Monday. The murder will "continue to astonish for decades," she said.

De Vries was shot on July 6, 2021 on Lange Leidsedwarsstraat in the center of Amsterdam after he appeared as a guest on a broadcast of RTL Boulevard. The crime reporter died from his injuries nine days later.

“Above all, we want to continue to honor his work, his fight for justice, his critical and independent spirit, his fearlessness as a guiding principle for our city and our residents,” Halsema said.

The monument for De Vries was made by artist Rini Hurkmans and is called Tegen alle stromen in, which translates as Against All Currents. The two bronze hands are located on the Leidseplein, where the RTL Boulevard studio used to be located.

"We couldn't wish for a more beautiful location," said Kelly de Vries, the daughter of the crime reporter. The artwork reflects De Vries' philosophy and his fight for people who needed help and against injustice. The statue contains De Vries' rules of life in 41 languages.

"Stay true to yourself… When necessary, stand up for the weak and minorities, speak your mind honestly and listen to your sense of justice. And pass that on to your children. Then everything will be fine.”

"We are convinced that the monument would have filled him with pride as well," Kelly de Vries said. "My heart aches, with sadness, but especially with pride. He was truly one of a kind," she concluded her speech.

"I hope it makes people think," said Royce de Vries, the son of Peter R. de Vries.

De Vries meant a great deal to the four people who unveiled the statue, including Berthie Verstappen, the mother of 11-year-old Nicky Verstappen who was killed in 1998, and Anja du-Bois, whose husband Wilco was wrongly imprisoned for years in the 1994 rape and murder of air hostess Christel Ambrosius. They were joined by the mother of missing 18-year-old Tanja Groen who disappeared in 1993, and Yosef Tekeste-Yemane, an Ethiopian man who gained refugee status and residency after De Vries stepped in to help.

The unveiling was broadcast live on NPO1 by Omroep Max. Part of the Leidseplein was cordoned off and tram traffic was temporarily halted.

For the murder of De Vries, the court imposed 28-year prison sentences against convicted gunman Delano G. and convicted getaway driver Kamil E. in mid-June. The Public Prosecution Service is convinced that De Vries was murdered because he was a confidant to Nabil B., the key witness in a series of assassinations and attempted killings linked to organized crime boss Ridouan Taghi in the Marengo criminal court proceedings.