National Monument. Dam Square

Dam Square is one of the most important and famous places in Amsterdam, where numerous cultural events are held. It has a fuzzy rectangular shape with a length of about 100 meters from north to south and about 200 meters from west to east. The square connects Rokin and Damrak streets, which run along the riverbed of the Amstel - from the railway station to the Coin Square. To the northeast of Dam Square is the Red Light District. In its western part is the neoclassical Royal Palace, which from 1655 to 1808 served as the building of the City Hall, and then was transformed into a royal residence.

One of the main attractions of the square is the National Monument - a memorial in memory of people who died during the Second World War. Every year on May 4, a national commemoration ceremony is held at this monument. The author of this unique monument is Jacobus Oud, a great Dutch architect. The central element of the structure is a conical concrete column, which has a height of 22 meters. On its front side is the bas-relief De Vrede, consisting of four chained male figures that symbolize the suffering of prisoners of war.