Mussert’s Wall in Lunteren

In 1936, the NSB began construction of a complex on the Goudsberg hill near Lunteren. The site was chosen not only because it was seen as the geographical center of the Netherlands, but also for its symbolic meaning. In line with the “Blood and Soil” ideology, the rural landscape was meant to represent the deep connection between people, land, and tradition. The complex, called the Nationaal Tehuis (“National Home”), was designed as a permanent rallying ground. Mussert’s Wall—a large stone structure with a podium—was completed in 1939 and modeled after the massive Nazi party rallies in Nuremberg. It was intended to host tens of thousands of supporters, shaping party identity and ideology through ritual and spectacle.

In practice, the Wall was only used twice, in 1939 and 1940. The German occupation and wartime fuel shortages quickly put an end to such gatherings. Still, Mussert hoped the site would serve as a lasting legacy of his movement. In 1938 he claimed that “generations thereafter will speak about the history of the Dutch people, saying that in Lunteren began the resurrection.”

After 1945, the site quickly lost its original meaning. First used by the scouts and later sold to a local family, the grounds became a campsite. Over time, the Wall was overgrown and largely forgotten. It was not until the early 2000s that debate returned. Heritage groups called for preservation, while survivors of the wartime resistance and Jewish organizations warned that recognizing the Wall risked fulfilling Mussert’s dream. The controversy reflected a deeper national dilemma: should “perpetrator heritage” be remembered or erased?

The discussion intensified in 2015, when local and national heritage organizations pressed for the Wall to become a protected monument. Opponents argued that preserving it would glorify fascism or attract extremists. Supporters countered that precisely because the Wall symbolizes betrayal and collaboration, it must be remembered. This debate echoed broader shifts in Dutch memory culture. For decades, the national story focused on resistance and liberation. More recently, attention has turned to collaboration and the darker sides of wartime society. Mussert’s Wall became a focal point of this shift.

In 2018, the Dutch government designated Mussert’s Wall a national monument. Crucially, this status was not about honoring the NSB, but about transforming the site into a place of learning. A Wageningen University report stressed that the Wall should serve as a warning, not a shrine. A design competition even reimagined the area as a landscape for reflection, remembrance, and education. Mussert’s Wall is located on the Goudsberg hill in Lunteren (municipality of Ede). The site is open as a historical monument and can be visited via walking trails in the surrounding area.