Camp Vught National Memorial – 36 Nationalities Behind Barbed Wire

Camp Vught National Memorial – 36 Nationalities Behind Barbed Wire is an exhibition that showcases the stories of 80 prisoners from 36 countries who were held at Camp Vught during World War II. The exhibition brings these prisoners’ journeys to life through personal artifacts such as books and sewing machines, allowing visitors to interact with the stories in innovative ways. Through touchable 3D objects, visitors trace the routes of these prisoners and listen to their stories via audio narratives, creating a deeply immersive experience that connects the past with the present.

The exhibition highlights six specific prisoners: Anton, Djajeng, Jane, Jules, Kam Hay, and Meta, while also shedding light on the stories of more than 1,800 non-Dutch prisoners held at Camp Vught. These prisoners were imprisoned due to their beliefs, ethnicity, or simply because they did not conform to the Nazi regime’s ideals.

In addition to the personal objects and life stories, the exhibition includes a world map and a scrollable display of passport photos, unlocking biographical information about each prisoner. This global narrative emphasizes how Camp Vught became a hub in the network of Nazi persecution.

Production: Camp Vught National Memorial, 2024.

Country: The Netherlands.

Project Link: Camp Vught National Memorial