De Ladder, War memorial sculpture near Laan 1914, Amersfoort, Netherlands.
De Ladder is a bronze sculpture rising about 14 meters at the intersection of Laan 1914 and Doornseweg. The vertical structure is composed of horizontal beams stacked in a ladder pattern, creating a geometric form that catches and reflects light throughout the day.
Artist Armando created this memorial in 1994 to commemorate about 35,000 prisoners who passed through the Polizeiliche Durchgangslager Amersfoort during World War II. The camp served as a transit and interrogation facility during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
The ladder shape speaks visually to the connection between earth and sky, representing the hopes that prisoners held during their confinement. Walking around it, visitors sense how a simple form can carry deep human meaning.
The memorial is located at Laan 1914, accessible from Amersfoort central station by walking through the city or by bicycle. Parking is available nearby, and the sculpture is always open to visit without restrictions.
Research uncovered that the camp held roughly 10,000 more prisoners than originally recorded, leading historians to revise their understanding of its scale. This discovery has informed how the memorial's story is told to visitors today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
