Grenspaal, Sculptural monument in Jodenbreestraat, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Grenspaal is a sculptural work on Jodenbreestraat made from a stone turtle supporting a tall column built with salvaged materials from an old insurance building. The architect Berlage had designed the original building that provided these pieces.
This monument was completed in 1986 to mark the end of an unfinished highway project from the 1970s. Strong local opposition from Nieuwmarkt residents had halted the highway construction.
The monument incorporates texts by Jacob Israel de Haan and includes references to the transformation of Amsterdam's Jewish neighborhood.
The sculpture is located at the intersection of Jodenbreestraat and Sint Antoniesbreestraat, making it easy to spot from different directions. Walking around it allows you to see all the assembled parts and how they fit together.
The green stone turtle had to be rebuilt with a new head after damage occurred to the original. Beneath the sculpture sits a base that was originally intended for a Rembrandt statue.
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