Large numbers of techniques, neatly incorporated

North Holland electrical specialist integrates extensive installation in new National Holocaust Museum

Opening in Amsterdam in 2024, the National Holocaust Museum will be the first and only museum to tell the history of the persecution of the Jews throughout the Netherlands. A history of exclusion, persecution and murder, but sometimes also of rescue, survival and solidarity. To make the former Hervormde Kweekschool suitable for this new and special function, major interventions were necessary. Also with regard to the electrical installations. The Hollandsche Schouwburg Foundation awarded this important task to Elektropartners, which also realized the electrical installations in the Hollandsche Schouwburg.

Elektropartners of Heerhugowaard is responsible for all electrical work at the National Holocaust Museum. From the distribution systems to the lighting installations, data installations, emergency power supplies and the building management system, says project leader Dennis Koopmans. "Through our subsidiary Protectiepartners, we additionally provided the access control systems, intrusion detection, fire alarm system and camera surveillance. We were also responsible for installing the elevators and setting up the control room, to which the other museum locations in the Jewish Cultural Quarter are also connected."

Low ceiling heights, high level of finish

"The Reformed Nursery School was not originally built as a museum," Koopmans emphasizes. "Thus the ceiling heights are limited, while in the new situation a considerable amount of cabling, fixtures, data connection points and other techniques had to be fitted in. In order to fit in all these facilities neatly and to guarantee the required high level of finishing, we worked out the entire project in advance and clashed it in 3D/BIM. Structural modifications were made in a few places to support the weight of the emergency power systems. And the lighting installation was also special."

Special lighting

In addition to the Reformed Nursery School, Elektropartners also took care of the electrical installations in the Hollandsche Schouwburg, the memorial building across the street. "A detailed lighting plan with decorative and explosion-proof fixtures had been worked out for the Hollandsche Schouwburg," says Koopmans. "In addition, hand-blown droplet fixtures including a Visible Light Communication (VLC) chip, which can also be used to transport sound fragments, were partially chosen. This allows visitors to the museum to select a new fragment of the audio tour at each selected lamp, in which, for example, Holocaust survivors share their stories." All lighting is DALI-controlled so that the lighting can be dynamically adjusted. This ensures the right atmosphere at all times and brings the profound story of the Hollandsche Schouwburg even better to its visitors.