The Holocaust memorial: a strong piece of steel!

Last September 19, the Holocaust Names Memorial was unveiled by King Willem-Alexander and Jacques Grishaver, chairman of the Dutch Auschwitz Committee. The memorial, designed by Polish-Jewish architect Daniel Libeskind, has been realized in the heart of the Jewish Quarter in Amsterdam. On the spot where many atrocities took place more than 70 years ago.

On Sept. 19, the Holocaust Names Monument was unveiled by King Willem-Alexander and Jacques Grishaver,

1 – Design: bricks

The Holocaust Names Monument forms a labyrinth of 72 concrete wall sections lined with red bricks that form the ground pattern of four letters. In each of these 102,000 bricks are inscribed in alphabetical order the names, dates of birth and ages of death of the victims. It is the first national memorial in the Netherlands to list the names of all the victims of both the Holocaust and the Porajmos (the Gypsy persecution by the Nazis).

2 – Design: stainless steel

On these wall sections, four seemingly floating objects made of mirrored stainless steel were created in the same pattern. Van Geenen was given the honorable task of taking care of the polishing part of these objects. An exclusive assignment that very few companies can perform. The job consisted of polishing 72 stainless steel plates, each measuring 12 by 2 meters. Each stainless steel plate was needed to make it into the large stainless steel letters.

3 – Symbolism: the form

The wall sections are placed in the shape of four Hebrew letters. These letters mean "in memoriam," the Hebrew name for "in remembrance." Where the brick walls and metal objects intersect, a narrow void was created. As a result, the steel letters appear to float. This symbolizes the interruption in the history and culture of the Dutch people by the atrocities of World War II.

4 – Symbolism: the material

The use of bricks refers to the representation of bricks in Dutch and, more broadly, Western European cities. The bricks combined with the reflective, geometric stainless steel letters symbolize the connection between Amsterdam's past and present. The reflective stainless steel reflects the rustling of trees.