National Holocaust Museum, Amsterdam

Editor's Note: Currently not in operation, with plans for a reopening in early 2024.

While it is still in the process of development, this museum, located in a former school adjacent to a nursery, holds a significant historical narrative that merits a visit. Its focus lies in shedding light on the experiences of Jewish children, aged up to 12, who were forced to endure the agonizing wait, separated from their parents, before deportation.

In October 1942, following the Nazis' takeover of the nursery, members of the Jewish Council stationed at the deportation site, with assistance from the resistance and the nursery's director, embarked on a daring mission to rescue Jewish children, providing them refuge within the confines of the school. This initiative, though challenging, eventually evolved into a crucial smuggling network.

A visit to the Holocaust Museum is an emotionally charged experience, offering insight into the lives of younger children through the display of their belongings and narratives. The museum also features an exhibition of photographs, many of which were unearthed years after the war in personal collections or antique shops. These photographs and accompanying documents convey the personal stories of numerous individuals, serving as poignant reminders of the more than 104,000 Dutch Jewish lives tragically lost during the war.

Traveler's Tip:
Across the street, you can take some time to visit the National Holocaust Names Memorial, which prominently displays the names of every identified victim of the genocide in the Netherlands on its wall.