Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork

Om museet

Westerbork camp was established in 1939 as a Dutch reception camp for Jewish refugees from Germany. After the German occupation it was converted into a transit camp in 1942: from here trains ran to the extermination and concentration camps in the east. In total, more than 100,000 Jews as well as Sinti and Roma were deported from the Netherlands via Westerbork.

After liberation the site was first used for other purposes; from 1951 Moluccan families lived there in the Schattenberg settlement until the barracks were demolished in 1971. After that the place largely fell into decay. On the initiative of survivors and relatives, the Herinneringscentrum opened in 1983 and has worked as a national memorial ever since.

The centre does not see itself as a general museum on the Second World War, but commemorates the persecution and genocide of Jews, Sinti and Roma. In the museum building the personal stories of the victims are told and the role of the place within the system of the Holocaust is explained. A good two kilometres away lies the former camp site, where traces, monuments and individual returned original elements such as Barracks 56 can be seen.

Fokusområder

• Museum with personal stories of the persecuted and an explanation of the camp system
• Former camp site (about 2.7 km away) reachable by shuttle bus, on foot or by bike
• Audio tour in Dutch, English, French and German included in admission
• Free daily guided tours of the camp site (seasonal)
• Museum café with terrace and museum shop

Permanente udstillinger

• Museum des Herinneringscentrum – Through personal stories, the exhibition tells of the persecution of Jews, Sinti and Roma and of the camp's eventful history up to its use by Moluccan families.
• Ehemaliges Lagergelände – On the site, markings, monuments and individual original buildings show the layout of the camp; a shuttle bus and free guided tours connect it with the museum.

Grundlagt

1983

Entrépriser & rabatter

Admission includes the shuttle bus ride to the former camp site and an audio tour. Free for Museumkaart holders, Friends of Westerbork, veterans and holders of the VriendenLoterij VIP card.

Tilgængelighed

• Kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator: ingen oplysninger
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: findes ikke
• Letlæste tilbud
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

The museum building is wheelchair accessible; wheelchairs are available at the car park. On the camp site, large parts can be traversed by wheelchair or rollator, but the paths are unpaved and the distances are large (around 500 by 500 metres). The shuttle bus is accessible to wheelchair users. Not all texts and objects can be touched. Sign language interpreters are not normally available, but can be arranged for events if requested in good time. Explanations are phrased at language level B1 where possible; the audio tour contains detailed descriptions.

Børn og familie

Kun delvist egnet til børn

• Familieomvisninger & workshops

The subject is serious; educational programmes are aimed at pupils from Year 7. Children under 6 years have free admission.

Transport & parkering

Navigation address Oosthalen 8, 9414 TG Hooghalen. By car via the A28, exit Beilen (31) towards Westerbork, then follow the signs to Hooghalen. The shuttle bus (2.7 km) runs to the camp site; alternatively on foot or by bike via the paved access road, cycling is not allowed on the site itself.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Museumsbutik

Museum café with terrace in summer, card payment only; vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free dishes on request. The museum shop sells souvenirs and books and has an online shop.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje

According to the website, rooms can be rented for events; details on request only.

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