National Monument

Image from Nationaal Monument

Image from Nationaal Monument

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Standing an imposing 22-metres high in the centre of Amsterdam’s Dam Square, the National Monument is the Netherlands’ most important memorial to World War II. Besides serving as a daily reminder of the war’s atrocities and those lost, the monument plays a central role in National Remembrance Day (Nationale Dodenherdenking, 4 May) when the royal family and local residents gather to pay their respects to fallen soldiers from both WWII and more recent conflicts.

The National Monument was designed by Dutch architect J.J.P. Oud. The completed monument was unveiled on 4 May 1956 by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Since its initial construction, the memorial has undergone two restorations – in 1965 and 1998. It gained recognition as an official national heritage monument (rijksmonument) in 2009.