National Monument

The National Monument on Dam Square is one of Amsterdam's most recognisable landmarks, a tall obelisk of white travertine stone erected to commemorate the Dutch victims of the Second World War. Unveiled in 1956, it stands at the geographic and symbolic centre of the city, flanked by the Royal Palace and the Nieuwe Kerk, and has long served as a gathering point for national remembrance ceremonies, most notably the annual 4 May commemoration attended by the Dutch royal family and thousands of citizens.

Today the monument anchors two walking experiences that use Dam Square as a starting point for exploring the city on foot. The Amsterdam Cultural and Historical Walking Tour, available in both German and English, traces the layers of the city's past from its medieval origins to its Golden Age prosperity. The Red Light District Guided Walking Tour moves through one of Amsterdam's most storied and often misunderstood neighbourhoods, placing its history and social context alongside the architecture that surrounds it.