Amersfoort boulder, Glacial erratic landmark on Stadsring and Arnhemsestraat, Amersfoort, Netherlands
The Amersfoort boulder is a massive stone block standing at the corner of Stadsring and Arnhemsestraat, weighing approximately 7 tons. It sits at a central intersection in the medieval city center and serves as a natural gathering spot for many people.
In 1661, a landowner named Everhard Meyster organized around 400 residents to transport this enormous stone into the city as a demonstration of power. The boulder became a target of public ridicule, so citizens buried it in 1672, where it remained hidden until its accidental discovery and excavation in 1903.
The boulder became a symbol of local identity, with residents proudly calling their city "Keistad" or Boulder City because of it. People gather here and use it as a well-known meeting point in the heart of town.
The stone sits at an easily accessible location in the middle of the city and can be reached on foot from various directions. The area is flat and pleasant to walk through, making it a good starting point for exploring the city center.
The stone required 400 people to transport it in 1661, with the landowner rewarding them with beer and biscuits, which was a remarkable feat of organization for the time. This speaks to how difficult it was to move such massive objects before the age of machinery.
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