Grondwetbank, Constitutional memorial at Hofplaats, The Hague, Netherlands.
Grondwetbank is a memorial at Hofplaats in The Hague featuring a long marble bench with inscriptions of Article 1 of the Dutch Constitution carved into its sides. The structured layout allows visitors to read the constitutional text as they walk past or sit.
The municipality of The Hague presented this memorial to the government in 1992, replacing an earlier rejected design that used cast iron and coal. This shift reflected a new approach to displaying constitutional ideals in public spaces.
The bench displays the fundamental Dutch constitutional text about equal treatment and non-discrimination, making legal principles accessible to the public. Visitors can read and reflect on these values directly at the site.
The memorial marks the starting point of the Constitution Path, a thematic walking route connecting various constitutional monuments throughout The Hague. Visitors can explore the entire route from here or simply read the bench without leaving the immediate area.
Since January 2023, the constitutional text engraved on the bench requires updates to reflect new provisions about disability and sexual orientation discrimination. This shows how constitutional principles continue to evolve to address contemporary concerns.
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