The old nursery school has been transformed into the National Holocaust Museum. The new museum houses more than 2,500 objects, including photographs, films and personal items of wartime Jews. The building, designed by Office Winhov, is the setting where the history of the persecution of Jews in the Netherlands takes center stage.
The Hollandsche Schouwburg Foundation manages the museum, which has been open since 2024. It is not only about the horrors of the Holocaust, but also about the daily lives of Jews prior to World War II, stories of survival and rescue. An important part is the National Memorial of Thanksgiving designed by Gabriel Lester, a lasting tribute to the victims and survivors.
The museum combines permanent and temporary exhibitions with interactive elements. Areas have been set up for remembrance and reflection, providing space to listen to podcasts and the stories of eyewitnesses. In addition, the museum develops educational programs for different school levels to keep knowledge about the Holocaust alive.
The National Holocaust Museum won the Amsterdam Architecture Prize in 2025 for its design by Office Winhov.
The museum invites a quiet and thoughtful experience without sensational additions. It brings a complex and painful chapter of recent history to the city and offers space for knowledge and remembrance without embellishment.