Description of the attraction
The National Monument is a monument erected in Dam Square, the central square of Amsterdam, the capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The monument was erected in 1956 in memory of those killed in World War II. Here, every year on May 4, a ceremony is held to commemorate the victims of the war. Until 1914, Dam Square was decorated with another national monument, Unity, which was a column crowned with a female figure.
After the end of World War II, it was decided to build a new monument on the central square, which would personify the unity of the people and would be a tribute to the memory of the victims. While the project was being discussed, a temporary monument was erected, which consisted of 11 urns with land from all provinces of the Netherlands. The land was taken from the sites of mass executions or military cemeteries. Later, a 12th urn was added - with land from Indonesia, a former Dutch colony.
The authors of the monument are Dutch architect Oud and sculptors Redecker and Gregoire.
The monument is a concrete column 22 meters high, faced with white travertine stone. The column is surrounded by sculptures symbolizing suffering during the war, the Resistance movement, a female figure with a child symbolizes peace, victory and a new life. Flying doves on the back of the column are a symbol of liberation. The base of the monument is made up of concentric circles forming steps. The two lions at the foot of the monument symbolize the Netherlands. Behind the column there is a semicircular wall, into which urns with earth are embedded. Queen Juliana of the Netherlands opened the monument at the ceremony.
In the 60s and 70s of the XX century, the monument became a gathering place for hippies who saw in it a symbol of freedom.
