The reason
During World War II, between 1942 and 1944, the Germans rounded up 25,835 Jews and Gypsies from Belgium and Northern France to Kazerne Dossin (SS Sammellager Mecheln). From here, they were deported for extermination. Just 1,221 people survived, less than 5 per cent. To commemorate this, the Jewish Museum of Deportation and Resistance was inaugurated in 1995. The limited size of the museum has frequently forced us to refuse groups.
In 2001, plans were being drawn up for a completely new museum, with the full support of the Flemish Government. After an international architecture competition followed by consultation with local residents, construction of the ambitious project Kazerne Dossin: Museum and Documentation Centre on Holocaust and Human Rights began in September 2009.
The design
A new museum will be built in the spot of the previous IKA building, opposite the Kaserne Dossin. The front extension of the barrack itself will be partly used as an archive and documentation centre as well as a place of contemplation. The two entities – museum and barrack – will be linked by a square with a monument, trees and footpaths.
AWG Architects, led by bOb van Reeth, designed the new museum to be constructed in lightcolours and materials. As a beacon in the environment that explicitly indicates the place of the event, but also as a positive message that exudes hope. The museum will have the shape of a pentagon, with a large glass section and four floors.
The objective
Kazerne Dossin is first and foremost the appropriate place to continue to remember the persecution of the Jews. Also – or especially – when the final witnesses will no longer be here. There will be a permanent historical exhibition on the persecution of the Jews and Gypsies and of human rights issues. Furthermore, human rights will also be dealt with through temporary, thematic exhibitions. Reminders of the dangers of totalitarian thinking warn that democracy is not something obvious: this is the basis of the museum’s objective.
The infrastructure will be in full accordance with the needs of schools and international visitors. In total, the museum aims for 100,000 visitors annually. This will make Kazerne Dossin a new historical reference in Europe, equal to and cooperating with the world’s best-known Holocaust museums.
