De Eendracht

As a reminder of the Eendracht dairy factory that operated from 1984 to 1967 at the place where Brandstraat and Kerkstraat meet in Beek en Donk. Although the dairy closed its doors in 1967, it was spared demolition until 1990. After that, the factory made way for the De Eendracht apartment complex, among other things. 
Here one sees day after day what unity can do. The 141 founders. 16 April 1894', reads the plaque from the old factory, which lies at the foot of the work of art. After the demolition of the dairy factory, this plaque lay for a long time in the municipal workshop, until in 1995 an initiative arose to place the plaque and a work of art in memory of the former factory. A sum of 1500 guilders was available and the Breda artist Ludovicus van Eijnatte was chosen. Finally, on 1 April 1999, the statue was unveiled by then alderman Louis Peeters, together with mayor Henk van Beers.

This monument holds not only cultural-historical value for Beek en Donk, but also sentimental value for the De Eendracht Neighborhood Association. This is not only due to the shared name, but especially because of the philosophy behind it. And that philosophy is synonymous with Mari Vereijken, chair of the De Eendracht Neighborhood Association, 1987-2024.

The letters come from the old Melfabriek de Eendracht, founded by no fewer than 141 founders on April 16, 1894. The memorial plaque, which has been here for some time, reads: "Here one sees day after day what unity can achieve." In other words, here one sees every day what unity can achieve. This fully aligns with the philosophy of the neighborhood association. When the Melkfabriek was demolished in 1990, Mari Vereijken secured the letters, intending to give them a new, yet worthy purpose. For years, the neighborhood association had been able to use a meeting space in Mari's house, called the Schuurdherd. Many items were also stored at Mari's house for the association's activities and for the flea markets, the proceeds of which benefited the association. After Mari Vereijken's death, the neighborhood association therefore made sure that the Schuurdherd, the attic, and all the outbuildings were completely cleared out.

During the cleanup, the letters were rediscovered. Ultimately, members of the neighborhood association came up with the idea of ​​replacing the letters in the place where they once began,

to better showcase the old memorial plaque and also to connect with our neighborhood association. The neighborhood association also received a subsidy from the municipality for this purpose. All other costs, including the welding and installation of the monument, were covered by the neighborhood association itself.