Page 97 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Amsterdam

Western Canal Ring ❮❮ 95

Western Canal Ring 1
Anne Frank House
This thought-provoking
museum encompasses the
achterhuis – the secret hide-out of
Anne Frank and her family – as well
as background information on the
plight of Amsterdam’s Jews and
racial oppression (see pp38–9).
Homomonument
2
MAP L2 • Westermarkt
(between Westerkerk and
Keizersgracht) • Tram 13, 14, 17
• www.homomonument.nl
This first memorial in the world to
gay men and women who lost their
lives during World War II also pays
tribute to homosexuals who are
still being oppressed today. The
memorial was designed by Dutch
artist Karin Daan and was erected in
1987. It consists of three equilateral
triangles made of pink granite, one
level with the street, one protruding
into the Keizersgracht and one Westerkerk
slightly raised – symbolising the
past, present and future. The pink unknown. Outside the church,
triangle, originally a badge gay men notice the poignant, small statue
were forced to wear in Nazi concent- of Anne Frank at the south west
ration camps, became a symbol of corner and, at the east end, the
gay pride in the 1970s and ‘80s. Homomonument – three pink
granite triangles commemorating
Westerkerk
3 persecuted homosexuals.
MAP L2 • 020 624 7766
Huis met de Hoofden
• Prinsengracht 281 • Church: open 4
11am–3pm Mon–Fri (Apr–Sep also Sat) MAP L2 • Keizersgracht 123 •
• www.westerkerk.nl • Tower: open Closed to the public except on
Apr–Jun: 10am–6pm Mon–Fri (until Open Monumenten- dagen
8pm Sat); Jul–Aug: 10am–8pm (see p76) • www.
Mon–Sat; Oct: 10am–6pm Mon– huismetdehoofden.nl
Sat • Admission charge • www. An eye-catching
westertorenamsterdam.nl extravaganza, the
A demanding climb to the House with the Heads
top of the soaring tower of is named for the six
Westerkerk, a landmark heads on its elaborate
close to the heart of every step-gabled façade. Each
Amsterdammer, rewards you head represents a
with a thrilling view. Designed Classical god – Apollo,
by Hendrick de Keyser and Ceres, Mars, Minerva,
completed in 1631, its Diana and Bacchus. Built
austere interior is unadorned, Bust of Mercury, in 1622, its Dutch
except for the ornate organ Huis met Renaissance design is
and its lively painted shutters. de Hoofden attributed to Hendrick
A memorial to Rembrandt and Peter de Keyser. The
reminds us that he was buried here, ground floor has barely changed in
although the precise burial site is four hundred years.

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