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Located at Dam Square, The National Monument was unveiled on May 4th, 1956. The monumental work designed by J.J.P. Oud is a fitting tribute to the many who perished amid the chaos and hostilities that ensued through the course of, and soon after, World War II. Encased in white Travertine stone, a towering, conical shaft, forms the core of the monument, flanked on either side by a pair of sculpted lions that symbolize the Netherlands. Its pinnacle sits at a height of 22 meters (72 feet), soaring high above the surrounding plaza. The central relief depicts the hardships endured by the people, symbolic representations of the resistance, and the eventual triumph against the fascist regime that threatened the sovereignty of the European nations. A semicircular wall partially envelops the monument, bearing 12 urns that contain soil from all the Dutch Provinces as well as the Dutch West Indies. Each year, the National Monument plays host to the Remembrance of the Dead ceremony on the 4th of May, performed in the presence of a large gathering of dignitaries and common folk.
