National Holocaust Museum

The National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam, opened in 2024, is housed in a former teaching training school, forming a unified memorial with the Hollandsche Schouwburg theatre across the street. The museum documents the persecution of Dutch Jews during the Holocaust, specifically highlighting how 600 children were smuggled to hiding places via the school. Architecturally, the design by Office Winhov respectfully enriches historical elements, including restoring the contour of the building’s characteristic facade and classroom layout, while introducing modern interventions like a new pavilion for exhibition space and an auditorium. The robust brickwork of the façade evokes Amsterdam School architecture, grounding the contemporary design in local context while allowing personal stories to remain central to visitors’ experience.

The National Holocaust Museum confronted the challenge of creating a respectful memorial space that honours two distinct but interconnected narratives without overshadowing personal stories through heavy-handed design. The primary strategy was to allow architecture to serve history rather than dominate it. Office Winhov addressed the spatial separation of the two buildings by recognising that the street Plantage Middenlaan itself was integral to the escape narrative, Nazi guards’ views were blocked by the tram, enabling children to flee through the front door. Key interventions involved re-exposing the back garden wall used in the escape route and restoring the school’s former atmosphere through architectural cues: the facade contour, classroom structure and characterising materials. Rather than imposing interpretation, the design creates mental space for visitors’ own consciousness-raising.

The museum preserves its original masonry walls and timber beams, honouring the building’s historical character. Two types of brick were carefully selected to complement the existing structure: a brown restoration brick, creating a subtle transition in the roof extension, and a white brick for the new museum entrance, emphasising lightness and openness. Reflecting the museum’s philosophy of revealing stories, the interplay of color, material, and light plays a crucial role in the design. Across the street, the Hollandsche Schouwburg features materials that reinterpret the 1960s memorial, much of which has unfortunately been lost over time. Its contemporary exterior materials reinforce the sense that the building is an extension of the surrounding public space. Sustainability guides the design through a minimalist “build only what’s necessary” approach. Wherever possible, building components were reused to minimise CO₂ emissions. Retrofitted insulation enhances thermal comfort while safeguarding the existing structure from moisture. A ground-source heat pump delivers efficient heating and cooling.