Sailor's Grave

This is the north side of the St.Jans church of Hoorn at Terschelling. The oldest monument on Terschelling with his roots going back to 1230. Since ages, islanders are buried on three sides of the church. The only side with no tombstones is the northern side. 'Northern wind is always cold' is a saying on this island, and the northern side of this church is regarded as the 'cold' side. Not very suitable to be buried, but good enough for foreign drowned seamen. On the right you can see a tombstone for the 261 drowned passengers of the liner Wilhelmsburg, stranded in december 1863 on the dangerous and treacherous coast of Terschelling. The biggest shipping disaster in the history of Terschelling. For me, I don't mind to be buried on the 'cold' side. Although living here for more than 30 years, I will always be regarded a foreign seaman.