Right before us stands the Wenende Vrouw. She is part of the National Monument on Dam Square. This monument serves as a daily reminder of World War II’s atrocities. It honors those who were lost.
The National Monument is the Netherlands’ most important memorial. It stands an imposing 22 meters high. The Wenende Vrouw meaning weeping woman is a key part of it. The monument plays a central role on National Remembrance Day. On May 4 the royal family and local residents gather. They pay their respects to fallen soldiers. They remember those from WWII and more recent conflicts.
Queen Juliana unveiled the National Monument on May 4, 1956. The Dutch architect Jacobus Oud designed the monument. John Rädecker created the sculptures with his sons Han and Jan Willem Rädecker. Paul Grégoire created the reliefs.
The central element is a concrete pillar. It is covered in white travertine stone. On the front is a relief called De Vrede meaning Peace. It shows four chained male figures. They represent the suffering during the war. Two male sculptures flank these figures. They represent the Dutch resistance. The left figure symbolizes the intelligentsia’s resistance. The right figure symbolizes the working classes’ resistance. Weeping dogs are at their feet. They represent suffering and loyalty.
Above the central relief is the sculpture of a woman. This is the Wenende Vrouw. She holds a child. Doves fly around her. She represents victory peace and new life. The back of the pillar shows doves ascending. They symbolize liberation.
Eleven urns surround the monument. They contain soil from execution grounds. The soil is from war cemeteries in each Dutch province. A twelfth urn contains soil from the Dutch East Indies now Indonesia.
The pillar bears a Latin inscription. It translates to Here where the heart of the fatherland is may this monument gaze at God’s stars. The wall behind the pillar also carries a Dutch inscription. It is a text by the poet Adriaan Roland Holst.
In the late 1960s the National Monument became a gathering place for hippies. They saw it as a symbol of liberty. People slept around the monument. In 1970 the government banned Damslapen or Dam sleeping. This led to rioting.
The monument has undergone two restorations. These were in 1965 and 1997–1998. During the 1990s restoration the monument was disassembled. The brick interior was replaced with concrete. In 2007 a wheelchair ramp was added. In 2009 it gained rijksmonument status. This means it is a national monument.
The Wenende Vrouw and the National Monument stand as a reminder. They symbolize resilience remembrance and the pursuit of peace. As we stand here reflect on the sacrifices made for freedom. Remember the importance of preserving peace for future generations.