Westerbork Path part 9

Hiked 12.9 kilometres in and around Amersfoort.

National Monument Camp Amersfoort is one of the three most famous Dutch memorial centers. About 37,000 mostly political prisoners have been detained here. Through Amersfoort with the Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren you walk to the north of the city to Lake anonymous Schothorst.

Hike report

Amersfoort

Started at Amersfoort Central train station.

Kamp Amersfoort

The National Monument Kamp Amersfoort is a museum dedicated to the 47000 people who were held captive in Kamp Amersfoort during World War II. It was the longest-running concentration camp in the German-occupied Netherlands. In Kamp Amersfoort, a tragic number of 652 people lost their lives due to executions, mistreatment, or exhaustion. And to make matters worse, a staggering 15% of the men who were forced to work in other camps as labourers or prisoners of punishment succumbed to these hardships.

Kamp Amersfoort wants to keep the memory of the tragic event alive by placing this monument. It honours the victims of the Holocaust, who were over 1,300 Jewish psychiatric patients and employees of the Apeldoornsche Bosch during World War II.

These trenches, which are both real and partly reconstructed, were built by Dutch soldiers in 1939. During the German occupation, they were expanded and modernised.

Shooting range and the place where people were executed.

This image, a prisoner’s representation for the firing squad, is a haunting memory of the victims who lost their lives in camp Amersfoort.

The prisoner’s fist, balled as a symbol of powerless anger and unwavering resolve, stands tall on a star-shaped mosaic adorned with five peace pigeons. These pigeons represent the five war years, symbolising hope and peace amidst the darkness. The prisoner, known by his official name as “prisoner standing in front of the firing squad,” is affectionately called “the Stone Man.”

This monument honours those brave souls who risked everything to hide strangers from foreign lands. These kind-hearted individuals and their families put their lives on the line, but they showed incredible courage and compassion. Thanks to these heroic people, around 200,000 people who were persecuted by the occupying forces were able to escape and find safety.

A small part of Camp Amersfoort remained. It is a museum now.

These three trees you see here were just planted when the camp opened. They’re still standing tall, and I hope they’ll be here for generations to come.

Continuing the walk

Back in Amersfoort

The synagogue of Amersfoort.

Finish line

Train station Amersfoort Schothorst is the finish line of this part.

Map

Details

More info

• Trail details (Dutch)
• Amersfoort
• Kamp Amersfoort