National Holocaust Names Memorial in Amsterdam

In 2013, the City of Amsterdam decided to build a memorial to the Dutch Jews, Sinti and Roma, who were murdered during the Holocaust. Circa 102,000 — between 75 and 80 percent of the Netherlands’ Jewish population — were killed during World War II, the highest rate in Western Europe. The design by the renowned architect Daniel Libeskind invoked substantial controversy among the city’s residents, mainly due to concerns about foot traffic, public safety, and the reduction of green spaces in urban areas. Although the dispute hindered construction for years, the memorial was completed and opened in 2021.