Dutch educators gather in The Hague to strengthen Holocaust education amid fading eyewitnesses
Over 200 education professionals, experts, and policymakers met in The Hague to discuss how to teach the Holocaust meaningfully as eyewitnesses disappear. The conference focused on practical tools, historical context, and combating antisemitism in classrooms across the Netherlands.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Professional Conference on Holocaust Education |
| Date | March 25, 2026 |
| Location | Sociëteit De Witte, The Hague, Netherlands |
| Organizer | National Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism (NCAB) |
| Key Speakers | Wojciech Soczewica (Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation), Willem Wagenaar (Anne Frank House), Adriaan van Dis (Loe de Jong Lecture) |
| Workshop Topics | Scapegoating, stories of people in hiding, Holocaust denial/distortion |
| Participants | Education professionals, policymakers, social partners |
| Annual Initiative | Loe de Jong Lecture, support center, and website: Learn About the Holocaust |
The National Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism (NCAB) plays a key role in promoting Holocaust education and combating antisemitism in the Netherlands. This conference aligns with their mandate to equip teachers with tools and resources to address historical atrocities and foster democratic values in classrooms.
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external link to whydonate.comRead the full translated article below
Professional Conference on Holocaust Education in The Hague Focuses on Teaching Practice and Knowledge Transfer
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the Professional Conference on Holocaust Education was held at Sociëteit De Witte in The Hague. Education professionals, experts, policymakers, and social partners gathered to exchange knowledge and experiences on Holocaust education and the role of the Holocaust in education.
The central question was how teachers can meaningfully and carefully address the Holocaust in the classroom, at a time when eyewitnesses are disappearing and societal and digital contexts are changing.
The Last Generation of Survivors
Wojciech Soczewica, director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, discussed the transfer of knowledge about Auschwitz in the period after the last generation of survivors. Willem Wagenaar of the Anne Frank House addressed Holocaust education in times of change. In his contribution, he emphasized that teaching about the Holocaust, in addition to remembrance, also requires historical context, analysis, and reflection on exclusion, perpetration, and democratic rule-of-law values.
The central question was how teachers can meaningfully and carefully address the Holocaust in the classroom, at a time when eyewitnesses are disappearing and societal and digital contexts are changing.
Workshops on Relevant Themes
The workshops further explored themes from educational practice. Topics included scapegoating mechanisms, stories of people in hiding, Holocaust denial and distortion, and international examples of Holocaust education. The sessions provided participants with an opportunity to share experiences and discuss teaching approaches.
First Loe de Jong Lecture
During the conference, the first Loe de Jong Lecture was delivered by Adriaan van Dis. With this lecture, the National Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism introduces an annual moment of reflection on the enduring significance of the Holocaust and the importance of teaching about it.
NCAB: “As a society, we will only remain resilient against antisemitism if we enable every teacher in the Netherlands to provide quality Holocaust education. The strong demand for practical tools was once again evident in the responses from attending teachers. We will incorporate their input into further strengthening our offerings, including through a support center, the annual campaign, and the website Learn About the Holocaust.”