Hollandsche Schouwburg (Holocaust Memorial & Dutch Theater), Amsterdam

Editor's Note: Presently undergoing renovations, the memorial is scheduled to reopen in 2024, coinciding with the opening of the new National Holocaust Museum just across the street.

Originally, De Hollandsche Schouwburg served as a theater where Jewish artists could freely showcase their talents without hindrance. However, in October 1941, the Germans transformed it into an exclusive venue for Jews, marking it as a significant gathering point for Amsterdam's Jewish population before their harrowing deportation during the subsequent summer. Inside, the absence of natural light and the living conditions foreshadowed the grim reality of the camps to which these families would soon be transported.

Following the war, uncertainty surrounded the fate of the building, but ultimately, its facade underwent restoration, and the front section was refurbished. Today, the ground floor features an eternal flame positioned before a solemn list of the deceased; additionally, four short films narrate the theater's history and its tumultuous past. Ascending the stairs, visitors encounter a small exhibit focusing on the theater's pre-war era, while the floor above houses an exceptional exhibition detailing the plight of the city's Jewish community. This comprehensive exhibit includes numerous wartime photographs and poignant film clips.

In stark contrast, the old auditorium at the rear of the building has been preserved as an empty, open-air space with a missing roof. A memorial column made of basalt, set upon a Star of David base, now occupies the spot where the stage once stood—a profoundly mournful monument that serves as a solemn tribute to the unimaginable suffering endured by countless individuals.