As the oldest park in Amsterdam, Wertheimpark is connected to the history and legacy of the entire city on multiple levels. Featuring a variety of monuments that further showcase this history and legacy, it showcases the many different ways that a space can cultivate a connection with audiences across the eras.
The Oldest Park in Amsterdam
First opened to the public in 1812, the green space located on the Nieuwe Herengracht canal would eventually be named after Jewish philanthropist Abraham Weirtheim who died in 1897. It originally contained a concert hall and theater before the space was converted to a sports field, enabling a much more casual connection for audiences with the space.
A natural stone fountain that was installed in 1898 is one of the more distinctive features of the park. Messages that call out the importance of helping the poor and weak as well as the relevance of town and country are displayed on various sides of the fountain. Ornamental lions also decorate the entrance to Wertheimpark, providing it with especially unique features that appeal to both residents and visitors. However, a more recent addition embraces the legacy of Amsterdam and the entire country of the Netherlands in a much more profound manner.
Installed in 1993 and designed by Dutch artist Jan Wolkers, the Auschwitz Memorial features a series of cracked mirrors laid out on the ground. According to the artist, the cracked mirrors represent the concept that “heaven is no longer unbroken since Auschwitz.” Designed to be a place of remembrance that could also be a warning for future generations, a prominent glass inscription reads ‘Nooit Meer’ (Never Again). Beneath the monument is an urn with the ashes of those who died at Auschwitz. The National Holocaust Memorial takes place at the Auschwitz monument on an annual basis, further connecting the park to the community.
Wertheimpark features plenty of space for visitors to relax and check out all the boats that cross the canal, providing audiences with a variety of places and ways to engage with the park. The new and historic landmarks that define Wertheimpark underscore what it can mean for such features to both embrace and newly define a legacy that extends across the entire history of an entire region.
The Past and Future of Amsterdam and the Netherlands
Wertheimpark is only a 0.75-hectare park but has nonetheless cultivated a connection to the past and future of Amsterdam on a profound level. Featuring areas to relax or take a walk as well as numerous notable monuments, Wertheimpark highlights what kind of engagement is possible in spaces that are especially small but can nonetheless have something for everyone to showcase the legacy of a city and country.
