National Slavery Museum International Competition
Dezeen Competitions: as part of the National Slavery Museum’s International Competition, design teams are invited to propose a vision for a museum and park at Kop van Java-eiland in Amsterdam.
The winning design team will win a building budget of €50 million.
This competition is now closed
Organiser: The City of Amsterdam (Dutch Government)
Competition: National Slavery Museum International Competition
Judges:
- Francesco Veenstra, government architect and chairman of the Board of Government Advisers
- John Leerdam: director of the National Slavery Museum Foundation
- Janna Bystrykh, architect
- Noraly Beyer, journalist, columnist and presenter
- Jennifer Tosch, cultural historian, activist, founder of Black Heritage Tours in Amsterdam (Netherlands) and New York State
- Erik van Ginkel, managing director at Rijksmuseum
- Richard Kofi, artist and curator at the International Theater Amsterdam
- Arna Mačkić, architect
- Carlos Gonçalves, policy maker
- Yvonne van Genugten, director at Indisch Remembrance Centre
- Winy Maas, architect and professor
Registration deadline: 7 April
Winner announcement: the winners of the first phase will be announced in June 2026. The second phase of this procedure dates are yet to be announced
Prize: the winner will win a building budget of €50 million
Competition overview
The City of Amsterdam has launched an international architectural competition for the design of the National Slavery Museum, in partnership with the National Slavery Museum Foundation.
Design teams from the Netherlands and around the world are invited to develop a vision for a museum building and park at Kop van Java-eiland, the western tip of an island in a former dockland area of central Amsterdam.
The winning proposal will give lasting expression to the recognition of the Dutch history of slavery. The museum will be a meaningful place for reflection, education and connection. A place that does justice to our shared past and offers prospects for future generations.
With the history of transatlantic slavery as its central point of reference, the museum will also address other histories of slavery, such as those of the Indian Ocean region.
The National Slavery Museum will tell stories of resistance, resilience and connection.
Eligibility and judging criteria
The City of Amsterdam is seeking a design team comprising an architect, a landscape architect, and one or more subject-matter experts specialising in the Dutch history of slavery.
At a later stage, a delivery team will be selected to develop the detailed technical design and bring the project to completion.
Collaborations between established practices and emerging designers are explicitly encouraged.
The design for the building and park must do justice to the historical significance of slavery, the significance of the site itself, and the role of the museum as a public place for meeting and exchange.
The museum has a broad societal character. In assessing submissions, particular attention will be paid to how the design reflects diverse perspectives, representation and inclusivity.
How to enter
Applicants can enter the competition via the website.
Submission deadlines
Teams must submit their proposals before 12pm CET time on 7 April.
About The City of Amsterdam and the National Slavery Museum
The competition is a collaboration between the City of Amsterdam and the National Slavery Museum Foundation.
The establishment of the National Slavery Museum has been made possible by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW).
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