Amsterdam, Netherlands – February 2026 – The City of Amsterdam has launched an international architecture competition for the design of the National Slavery Museum, a landmark cultural institution dedicated to confronting the Netherlands’ role in the transatlantic slave trade.
The museum and an accompanying public park will be developed on the western tip of Java Island, located in Amsterdam’s eastern harbor area. The initiative is being delivered in partnership with the National Slavery Museum Foundation.
A Landmark Cultural and Historical Project
The Netherlands was responsible for approximately 600,000 enslaved individuals — around 5 percent of the total transatlantic slave trade. In 2022, the Dutch government issued a formal apology acknowledging crimes against humanity tied to slavery. The planned museum represents a significant step toward public recognition and education.
The international competition calls for proposals for:
- A 96,000-square-foot museum building
- A 270,000-square-foot public park designed as an extension of the museum campus
According to the open call, the selected design must reflect the gravity and significance of its mission:
“For the recognition of the history of slavery, a dignified and meaningful building is required. A building that houses and conveys the full story of the Dutch history of slavery in different ways. A building that is easily accessible and occupies a prominent location.”
Inclusive Design Criteria
The National Slavery Museum Amsterdam competition is open to architects and landscape architects worldwide. Organizers have emphasized that participating teams should reflect diverse communities and maintain a meaningful connection to the history of slavery in the Netherlands.
Project teams are encouraged to include:
- Early-career designers
- Historians
- Contextual and interdisciplinary experts
The winning team will collaborate with a local engineering firm appointed by the City of Amsterdam.
Public Realm as Space for Reflection
The adjacent park will serve both as a contemplative landscape and as a functional extension of museum programming. The green space is envisioned as a civic platform — enabling dialogue, reflection and community gathering in response to the museum’s exhibitions.
Jury and Timeline
A shortlist of 10 teams will be announced in June 2026, with final submissions due by April 7, 2026.
The competition jury comprises prominent figures from architecture, cultural institutions and historical scholarship, including:
- Francesco Veenstra, Chief Government Architect
- Winy Maas of MVRDV
- Erik van Ginkel, Managing Director of the Rijksmuseum
- Jennifer Tosch, cultural historian
The museum is currently projected to open as early as 2028.
A Defining Cultural Institution
The National Slavery Museum Amsterdam competition marks a pivotal moment in the Netherlands’ evolving reckoning with its colonial and slave-trade history. By situating the project in a prominent waterfront location and inviting global design leadership, the City of Amsterdam aims to create a civic landmark that is architecturally distinguished and historically resonant.
