The Kazerne Dossin Holocaust memorial, museum and research centre in Mechelen (Malines, Mechlin) will open a completely renewed permanent exhibition in 2030. The plans were announced on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the presence of Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) and Flemish minister of Culture Caroline Gennez (Vooruit).

The renewal marks a major investment in the future of the institution. The Flemish government is contributing €4.2 million towards the project, which has a total budget of around €7 million. The new exhibition will replace the current permanent display, which opened together with the museum building in 2012 and is now considered in need of a more contemporary approach.

The revamped exhibition will start from the history of the Dossin Barracks itself, a key site in the Belgian and French history of the Holocaust, where Jewish and Roma prisoners were held before being deported to Auschwitz. This historical core will be linked explicitly to broader themes of human dignity and human rights. Alongside the inhuman history perpetrated by human beings, the exhibition will also examine the mechanisms, structures and logistics that made the Holocaust possible.

According to director Tomas Baum, the renewal is essential to keep the museum relevant for present and future audiences. “We have to keep telling the story, but the way we do it has changed,” he said. “Our exhibition has to speak to people today, but also in five or ten years’ time. We also want to use this opportunity to make the museum fully accessible to people with disabilities, without them having to take special measures to visit.”

The new permanent exhibition is designed to appeal both to returning visitors and to new audiences, with particular attention to younger generations. It will reflect the latest historical research, anticipate a growing and more diverse visitor profile, and make use of contemporary museological and digital presentation techniques. The museum hopes to increase annual visitor numbers to around 90,000 once the new exhibition opens.

Until 2030, the current permanent exhibition will remain open, and no temporary exhibitions are planned during the redevelopment period.

Minister-president Diependaele described Kazerne Dossin as a vital place of remembrance. “Kazerne Dossin reminds us of what dehumanisation can lead to,” he said. “This investment ensures that this history can continue to be passed on in a clear and accessible way, as a cornerstone for human dignity and human rights, today and tomorrow.”

The announcement follows the awarding of the Flemish government’s museum quality label to Kazerne Dossin in September 2025. From 2026 onwards, the museum’s funding will be structurally embedded within the Flemish cultural policy framework, strengthening its role as a memorial, museum and research centre.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the victims of the Holocaust and marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on 27 January 1945.

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