W installation of museum quality

National Holocaust Museum Amsterdam: not a big project, but complex

In early 2024, the new National Holocaust Museum will open in Amsterdam, telling the history of the persecution of the Jews in the Netherlands. It will be located in the Hervormde Kweekschool. Klomp B.V. took care of the complete W-installation there.

The complete indoor climate, plumbing and the WKO: it is all in the hands of Klomp. She began by drilling the open source 180 meters deep in the garden of the Kweekschool, which extracts heat and cold from the ground. To install the source, the entire front facade had to be removed, after which a truck could drive in. Carlo Nonneman, business manager at Klomp, says: "This was done at night so as not to block traffic during the day. That was a logistical challenge. A new facade was then built, which will be the new entrance."

Alignment as an advantage

Because permanent and temporary exhibitions will be on display, featuring works of art and historical objects, air quality is of great importance. The indoor climate is kept in order with the help of a heat pump, climate ceilings, ventilation with WTW and air humidification. This can be controlled per room. A lot of time goes by before the collection can be moved in, Nonneman continues, "After the installations have been turned on and the dust has settled, cleaning and furnishing take place. Then this process is repeated, and only then is the collection moved in. Everything comes very precisely. The architect also sets high standards. Cameras and techniques are adjusted specifically to the objects and that takes time."

It is therefore not a large project, but it is complex, says work planner Willem Jonker. "Every square meter is used. We searched exactly for the right location for the techniques so that they do not interfere with the exhibitions. In consultation with the architect, we matched shutters and servers exactly to the exhibitions."

Prestigious project

"After the museum opens, Klomp will also take care of the long-term maintenance, including the other buildings within the Jewish Cultural Quarter," says project manager Erik Slagter. It is therefore a project to be proud of, especially given the cooperation with the client and other contractors. Nonneman: "Everyone works intensively together to get the best result. It is an enormous honor that we are allowed to build this, a calling card. The museum will soon be visited by people from all over the world. That is what we are linking our name to. It is a prestigious project of which we want to make a masterpiece. The cooperation with the superintendent, Wijngaarde & Partners, is also very pleasant. He really involves us. The management shows that we are not just another contractor and that they appreciate the fact that we are making this for them."