Kazerne Dossin received the prestigious European Culture Award from KulturForum Europa on Tuesday – alongside co-organisers Mémorial de la Shoah – for its Homosexuals and Lesbians in Nazi Europe exhibition.
After having been used as a transit camp by the Nazis during the Second World War, today Mechelen's Kazerne Dossin is a museum and Holocaust memorial for the victims of Nazi oppression.
To celebrate the award, the museum has decided to make the award-winning exhibition free from Thursday 8 March until Saturday 10 March.
KulturForum Europa selected the exhibition for its prize because it draws attention to the extent of Nazi persecution and the wealth of cultures within the LGBTQ+ community in the early 20th century.
"The exhibition has successfully taken up the challenge of saving this chapter in history from oblivion. It starts from a scientific point of view, striving to combat as many untruths as possible and filling gaps in knowledge," KulturForum Europa said.
Credit: Kazerne Dossin
Kazerne Dossin developed and collected material relating to Belgium and the Netherlands, calling on the expertise of historians such as Wannes Dupont, Judith Schuyf, Marc Verschooris and Bart Hellinck.
The exhibition initially ran from 16 February 2023 until 10 December 2023 and was extended until 13 March 2024 due to its success. The exhibition has already welcomed more than 21,000 visitors since it opened.
"Once again, Kazerne Dossin has demonstrated that it is an international reference as a museum, positioning Mechelen as a place of remembrance of a past that must never be repeated," added Björn Siffer, Mechelen’s culture councillor.
