National Monument on Dam Square Vandalized; Two Men Arrested

Amsterdam's National Monument on Dam Square was vandalized during the night between Saturday and Sunday, prompting police to arrest two men.

The 27-year-old suspect, from Hoofddorp, allegedly spray-painted a skull onto the monument. A difficult-to-read text was also applied in yellow paint to the base of the 22-meter-high pylon. Large letters reading "Stop the human traffic" and "Time to wake up!" were written in blue paint on the memorial wall behind the pylon. Police reportedly witnessed the 27-year-old applying the slogans.

The second individual arrested is a 39-year-old man from Poland. He is accused of writing something on the rear of the monument with red lipstick. The monument is currently undergoing cleaning.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema expressed dismay on Instagram, calling the vandalism "terrible." The monument was previously defaced on May 4, the eve of the Dutch Remembrance Day, with the word "genocide" spray-painted on it. The city is evaluating whether to install a fence around the monument next year.

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It is terrible that the monument on the Dam is once again the target of vandalism.