The story of Everard Meyster and the Amersfoort Boulder is a fascinating anecdote from Dutch history, rich in humour, community spirit and a touch of human folly. In 1661, Everard, better known as the 'Dolle Jonker', managed to win a unique bet by convincing hundreds of Amersfoort residents to drag a huge boulder to the city centre. This boulder, which weighed about five tonnes and lay six kilometres outside the city, became the centrepiece of an unprecedented undertaking.
The journey from the boulder to the city became a veritable mob, with about four hundred people working together to move this heavy boulder. Everard provided entertainment by handing out beer and pretzels, turning the whole thing into a big party. Despite the festive atmosphere, the action was also met with derision and scorn, not only from outsiders but also from Everard himself, who ridiculed the efforts of the Amersfoorters in his poems.
However, the aftermath of this event showed that not everyone could appreciate the joke. The imperialists, feeling mocked, made Everard feel compelled to leave Amersfoort. He then settled in Utrecht, where he built a house that served as a living monument to this particular history. The house was adorned with symbols that recalled the keisle dragonage: a large boulder above the entrance to the coach house and a doorbell in the shape of a pretzel.
Sources. Story: indebuurt.nl Photos: Source photo: Goosen, D.C., fotograaf, Het Utrechts Archief
