The Py­ra­mid of Aus­ter­litz

The Pyramid of Austerlitz is a remnant from the period when the Netherlands was under French rule.

History
In 1804, a French general was tasked with forming an army of French and Dutch soldiers. At the time, the Netherlands and France were at war with England, and a well-trained army had to be ready for a possible invasion.

An army camp was set up in the open heathland near Zeist, where various battalions were merged over the course of a few months into a large, new army. To keep the troops from getting bored, the general had a monument built out of earth and sod, inspired by the Pyramid of Giza. It took 30 days to build the 36-meter-high pyramid, and on October 12, 1804, the monument was officially unveiled with a festive ceremony.

Because the pyramid in its original form was not resistant to rain and wind, it underwent a thorough restoration in 1894.

Visit the Pyramid of Austerlitz
A day trip to “the pyramid” is a treat for the whole family. The highlight is, of course, the pyramid itself. But the children will also have a great time in the extensive playground and amusement park, complete with bumper cars, merry-go-rounds, a miniature train, and more.