Kazerne Dossin

What happened to the victims of the Holocaust? Learn about the human side of war inside a former transit camp. See the faces of the thousands and remember their story

Kazerne Dossin was once a transit camp where Jews were held during WW2 before being deported to Auschwitz or other concentration camps. These days it's a memorial and museum to the Jewish and Romani people who were held here.

This place stands as a warning against discrimination. To learn about the war and what it was really like for the people the Nazis persecuted, check out Kazerne Dossin. You’ll learn a lot. The museum has info in English, Dutch and French.

First up you’ll go through the memorial. It starts with over 25,000 images of Jews and Romany people, who were deported from Kazerne Dossin to Auschwitz. Put a face to what you’ve read about in school. As you go through the memorial you’ll understand their lives before the war of Jewish life in Belgium before it all came crashing down. Prepare for a moving experience.

How did all this happen? The museum takes you through 3 big themes: Mass, Fear and Death. It shows you the rise of the Nazis and anti semitism in Germany, how Belgium became a police state after falling to Germany, and much much more.

• Life at Dossin: this part of the memorial has an audio guide so you can hear letters written by prisoners to their loved ones. Hearing their words spoken aloud brings them to life
• Exhibits: the museum has 3 floors, but they hold temporary exhibits on the ground floor pretty often. You’ll have to get a combi ticket to see it along with the permanent exhibits or get a ticket for the temp exhibit only.
• Reach the top floor and you’ll see a good view of Mechelen’s skyline. Good spot to take a breather here!
• See more of Belgium’s WW2 history at Fort Breendonk - it was used as a prison camp for political prisoners. It’s a short car drive away from Mechelen.