Mechelen, 27 January 2026 – Today marks the annual commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was established by the United Nations as a permanent reminder of the dangers of hatred, intolerance and anti-Semitism. The date was symbolic: the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated on 27 January 1945.
Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of the Flemish Government, and the Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez visited Kazerne Dossin today. On this symbolic day Kazerne Dossin, the museum, memorial and research centre concerning the Holocaust and human rights announced an upgrade of the permanent exhibition backed by the Flemish Government.
New permanent exhibition
The current permanent exhibition was opened along with the museum building in 2012. The new permanent exhibition, planned for completion by 2030, will appeal to both familiar and new audiences, with a particular focus on younger generations. The starting point is the history of the Dossin Barracks as a key element of Belgian and northern French Holocaust history and specifically associates it with human rights. The upgrade will incorporate current scientific insights, a growing and more diverse visitor population and contemporary museum and digital presentation techniques. The exhibition will be accessible, multi-vocal and focused on life-long and life-wide learning, with a focus on human dignity and critical reflection.
With this project, Kazerne Dossin is affirming its role as a reference institution for the history of the Holocaust in Belgium and as a place where the meaning of this past is permanently explored in relation to human dignity and human rights. The Flemish Government is awarding a project grant amounting to 4.2 million euros to Kazerne Dossin for the realisation of a new permanent exhibition focused on the Holocaust and human rights.
“Kazerne Dossin reminds us of what dehumanization can lead to. This investment will ensure that this period in history will continue to be passed on in a clear and accessible manner in the future; as a cornerstone for human dignity and human rights, today and tomorrow.” – Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of Flanders
During the visit, we called attention to the ongoing Every name matters project, a symbolic gesture to keep alive the memory of every deportee. Approaching the threshold of 22,000 participants, Kazerne Dossin is still looking for 4,000 people to proclaim a name. Minister Gennez participated in January 2025 and Minister-President Diependaele also recorded a name today.
Support for Kazerne Dossin from the Department of Culture
Both the decision to co-fund the upgrade of the permanent exhibition and the fact that from 2026 Kazerne Dossin will also receive support from the Department of Culture were announced during the visit.
In September 2025 Kazerne Dossin was awarded the quality label for museums by the Flemish government. From 2026 support for the museum will become an integral part of the Culture policy area, intensifying the operations of Kazerne Dossin as a memorial, museum and research centre.
“Kazerne Dossin is where we want to keep awareness of the Holocaust alive for every generation, which is why Flanders is investing in the future of this museum. Learning about the Holocaust helps us understand what exclusion, discrimination and persecution can do to people. Gaining an insight into this history helps us realise that universal human rights and individual fundamental freedoms are never set in stone. By incorporating the museum permanently into Culture from 2026 onwards, we are supporting remembrance, research and dialogue − thus preserving our past, in the hope of a better future.” – Caroline Gennez, Minister of Culture
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is held annually on 27 January, the day on which Auschwitz was liberated in 1945, with commemorations in different locations. Kazerne Dossin also organised a ceremony for this symbolic occasion. Wreaths were laid in front of the old Dossin Barracks in the presence of politicians, ambassadors and delegates from 19 different countries, commemorating the 25,843 people who were deported from Mechelen during World War II.
“Remembering the Holocaust encourages reflection rather than trying to fix the past. About the impact of dehumanization, then and now, and our responsibility to continue to defend human dignity.” – Tomas Baum, Director of Kazerne Dossin