Auschwitzmonument (Mirror Memorial for Auschwitz), Amsterdam

In striking contrast to the serene surroundings of Wertheimpark, Jan Wolkers' 1977 Auschwitz memorial, titled "Never More," incorporates a shattered glass slab. These fragmented pieces reflect a distorted view of the sky, symbolizing the profound damage inflicted upon humanity by the Holocaust.

During the Second World War and the Nazi occupation, a significant number of Jews were systematically transported to concentration camps in Poland. Among these camps, Auschwitz gained a notorious reputation. Out of the approximately 140,000 Jews residing in the Netherlands before the war, a staggering 107,000 had been deported to concentration camps by 1944. Among them, over 95,000 were sent to Auschwitz, with only 500 surviving until the war's end.

The monument, commissioned by the Dutch Auschwitz Comité, was initially located in a municipal cemetery. Every year, on January 27th, Memorial Day is observed to commemorate the countless lives lost in Auschwitz during the Holocaust.