Seventeen compartments each holding a piece of Amsterdam’s soul lie beneath our feet at the Monument voor de stad Amsterdam. This is no ordinary monument. It is a time capsule.
Hello everyone. I am eager to tell you the story of the Monument voor de stad Amsterdam. It is located in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. The monument is more than just a sculpture. It is a vault. It holds a snapshot of Amsterdam from 1977.
The artist Pieter Engels conceived this idea back in 1970. The city of Amsterdam paid him 750 guilders for his idea. In 1977, the city paid 150,000 guilders for the finished product. The Monument voor de stad Amsterdam is made of Swedish granite, concrete, and steel. It weighs 18,000 kilos.
Imagine what lies beneath this square granite slab. There are films, newspapers, and photos. There is even a film projector. A radio broadcast captures the news of the time. It includes the 1977 parliamentary election squabbles. It also includes the train hijacking at De Punt.
Engels even included his own breath within the capsule. Ground samples, water from the Singel, Prinsengracht, and the IJ are also sealed within.
Engels deposited 100 guilders into an account at the Nederlandsche Middenstandsbank. This account will be accessible in 2477. The money plus interest is for Engels’ descendants. It is also for the founding of a Pieter Engels Museum.
A stainless steel chest protects these items. Golden letters on the granite slab above ground describe its contents. Engels specified that the chest should only be opened after 500 years.
Imagine the scene in 2477. The film shows a plane towing a banner that reads: “Pieter Engels & Amsterdam 1977 greet Amsterdam 2477”. This message is also inscribed on the top of the chest.
The Dienst der Publieke Werken buried the monument. Koninklijke Saan carefully put it in place around August 26, 1977.
Not everyone appreciated the monument. Three artists led by Hans Verhoef vowed to destroy it in 1978.
Consider this monument as a message in a bottle. It is a message sent to the future. It is a reminder of our time. Our customs. Our very existence. The Monument voor de stad Amsterdam captures a moment in time. It preserves it for future generations or even other beings to discover. It invites reflection on our place in the grand scheme of things. It makes us consider what we deem worthy of remembrance.