Frequently asked questions

Free visits for groups of up to 75 pupils are possible as an exception, following our approval. Please contact reservaties@kazernedossin.eu for this.

We would ask you to prepare the visit thoroughly, possibly with your own educational material. Self-guiding is not allowed. Please provide sufficient supervision to ensure that the visit proceeds smoothly. One teacher can participate free of charge per group of 25 pupils.

Click Collections  in the yellow bar at the top. The overview of all available collections in the image bank appears. You can organize these in different ways: by relevance, by date modified, by file name, alphabetically by title, or by archive date.

Enter your additional search term in the Additional search term  in the  search term field, in the dark gray box at the top. By clicking on the title, the image or Open this collection  under the image of a collection, you open the description and you can click through to the items  in this collection.

Note: Do not use the Start new search . This way you will end up in the general overview again. When searching in collections, you can also use the tips for the general search field (see above).

Alternative: You can also enter your search term in the general search window and then enable the filter for collections in the column Refine your search  on the far left.

How to look for a collection and elements concerning one specific theme?

The far left column called Refine your search contains a number of filters. You can select certain categories and key words as search terms by clicking on the plus next to this category or keyword in the list. The combination of certain keywords leads to different results. For example, the category Anti-Jewish measures and the keyword Identification measures lead to results on the registration of Jews in Belgium during the occupation. The combination of the category Pre-war Jewish life and keyword Identification measures leads to results about prewar passports and migration documents.

You can perfectly combine filters with categories and key words with a free search or filters on the type of item).

Click Collections  in the yellow bar at the top. The overview of all available collections in the image bank appears. You can organize these in different ways: by relevance, by date modified, by file name, alphabetically by title, or by archive date.

By clicking on the title, the image or Open this collection  under the image of a collection, you open the description and you can click through to the items  in this collection.

Downloading a work copy is always possible. Both in the overview with all your results and on the screen with the complete description of a collection,  you will find a file right at the bottom the button with an arrow Download Preview. Click on it to download a work copy of the item.

Note: Downloading a work copy does not automatically imply permission to reproduce or publish a part. This requires the permission of the copyright holder.

Your results contain images that you want to view in more detail. Open the description of the collection, file or item. Then click on the image of the collection, file or item that you want to view in detail. A view appears on which you can zoom in, without any description. Close the enlarged view by clicking the gray cross at the top right of the page.

The alternating guest exhibitions can be viewed on the fourth floor, and you can read all about the current exhibition in our calendar.

The dark gray area Search terms  at the top left shows all your search terms and filters. When you move your cursor over a search term/filter, a deletion appears. Click on the search term/filter you want to delete. The search term/filter will disappear from your list of used search terms and your results will be adjusted.

This depends on which archive collection you want to consult. You can consult the deportation lists of the Dossinkazerne and the portraits of deportees on any PC (including at home). The other collections can only be consulted in the reading room, where you fill in a research statement. You can consult it in the reading room of Kazerne Dossin, but you can also visit the reading room of affiliated partner institutions.

Our temporary exhibitions are scheduled far in advance by a Temporary Exhibition Steering Committee. Please submit your proposal via this page. The steering committee will then examine your proposal, and will contact you.

Both in the overview with all your results and in the screen with the complete description of a collection, file or item  you will find at the bottom right the button with a heart Add to favorites. Click this to save the items that you want to re-view later. Then click on Favorites in the yellow bar at the top. You can view all your saved favorites in  detail from here.

We have consciously opted for small groups in order to ensure quality and comfort during the tour. In addition, smaller groups can move through the exhibition more easily, and provide the guide with more opportunities to explain the multimedia applications. 

Because there is no such thing as the ‘Roma’. Each individual from this diverse group has their own identity. In addition, this name was unjustly given a negative connotation, which we do not want to encourage. Stereotyped ideas have a bad influence on our society.

Browse your results

Click on one of your search results. Right above the image you will find an arrow with which you can navigate to the left (backward) and right (forward) between your results. The complete description appears under each new result.

Return to the overview of your results

Right above the image you will find the Back to search . With this button you return to your overview with all the results.

There are parking spaces around the museum, and there is also an underground parking lot, Parking Tinel (Edgard Tinnellaan 6) only a 5-minute walk from the museum. For more information, take a look at the page with the practical information.

You can change the language in the language menu at the top right. The titles of the description fields appear in the selected language. The descriptions themselves are not translated and are always  available but in English only.

The visit is mainly carried out without an audio guide, but you will need an audio device for the introductory film and for a number of films on the second floor. You can borrow the audio device free-of-charge.

You can visit the museum from 9 am on weekdays (except Wednesday, when the museum is closed) and from 9.30 am during the weekend. We close the doors at 5 pm. We will notify you that the museum is about to close a quarter of an hour before closing time.

We offer a wide range of options for groups. Please refer to the offers for primary schools, secondary schools, higher education, and adult groups.

Open a search result by clicking on the title or on the image. An enlarged image appears with a short description of the collection, folder or item  on the Description tab below. More detailed information can be found under the tab Additional meta info .

You can buy a museum pass at the counter, have it extended, or can obtain a replacement if it has been lost.

The museum building was designed by bOb Van Reeth and his architect firm AWG in Antwerp. You can read more about the architecture on the ‘museum’ page.

If the number of results is still too large, enter an additional search term via the Additional search term field (dark gray search terms field – top left). The image bank combines all entered terms so that your search is refined. This gives the same result as the use of AND.

The museum is fully wheelchair-accessible, and the accompanying person has free entry. You can borrow a wheelchair free of charge. Reservations are recommended, however, and can be made via reservaties@kazernedossin.eu (at a minimum of five days in advance).

Animals, with the exception of blind guide dogs, are not allowed in the museum. 

The museum is easy to reach, thanks to its central location in Mechelen. If you are arriving by car, train or touring coach, then please check our route instructions for detailed information.

The image bank searches for keywords that appear in the title and description of a collection, a file or an subjct. The standard overview with small versions of the results does not immediately show the context of a result and the reason why the result appears. It is easier and user-friendly to switch from Show results in grid  to Show results in list.  This option can be found just below the yellow bar at the top. Together with the reduced reproduction of your result, you will see the title and the first part of the description.

You can pay on the spot via bancontact or by invoice. The invoice will be sent to the school after the visit.

A search can produce hundreds of results. These are sorted according to the option chosen under Sort by  just below the bright yellow bar at the top. You can organize in various ways: by relevance, by date modified, by file name,  alphabetically by title, or by archive date.

The image bank contains descriptions on three levels: collections, files and documents. An icon on the right below an image with your search results shows the type of this hit. A folder refers to a collection, a paper clip to a file and a square with a mountain to an individual piece. In addition, you can also add filters using the filters in the far left column Refine your search for the type of items including collection, folder and photos or other types of items.

Tip: The easiest way to sort is the file name option.  This is how the relevant collections first appear, followed by the relevant files and finally by the items such as photographs.

At the moment, you cannot visit the museum in the evening.

If there is any reason to doubt about the spelling, add an * in your search term. For example, do you doubt between Horowicz or Horowitz? Then type Horowi*. Then you then get all the search results that start with Horowi. This also works in the beginning or middle of a word. Horo * itz, for example, produces both Horowitz and Horovitz as results. You can use as many asterisks in your search term as you want, but the more asterisks, the more results.

It’s not possible to have lunch (in a group) at Kazerne Dossin, as the museum does not have a museum café or a lunch area. If you’d like to have lunch with your class in Mechelen, you can do so in The Atrium, which is near the museum. This space can be used free of charge, subject to purchase of one consumption (per person). Contact details: 015 33 03 17 or info@theatrium.be, max. 80 people. Location: near the Romboutstoren.

 

To reproduce images from the image bank you need a preceding written permission from the copyright holder. When you open a collection or a part of it by clicking on it, a number of details appear to the right of the image. The copyright is indicated under Rights owner . If items belong to the collection of Kazerne Dossin, the employees can immediately help you. In other cases, the staff will provide you with the contact information of the copyright holder. You can also request more information about the rights via the button Request more information  (marked with the symbol i) or via mail.

You are free to go outside for some fresh air during your visit, and can resume the visit some time later. Please inform the receptionist about this.

You are allowed to photograph the permanent collection.

For example: a first name and a second name

If you are looking for a description or a title in which two or more words appear scattered, use AND to combine the keywords. You are looking for Michel Goldberg but you will find hundreds of Goldbergs when you search by surname. Then type Michel AND Goldberg. All documents about Michel Goldberg appear.

Specific combination of words

When searching for a specific combination of terms, such as Association of Jews in Belgium, but getting all the descriptions in which the words Jews, Belgium and Association appear? Put your search between quotation marks: “Association of Jews in Belgium”. Only results with this specific word combination appear.

No, this is not allowed. We only work with our own guides who have fully completed our guide training.

We sell two types of gift vouchers, with values of €25 or €10. 

No, it’s not necessary to book in advance if you come alone, with your family, or with a group of less than 15 persons.

You cannot use discount cards or free cards via the webshop. You must therefore choose the standard rate and then the ‘Pay in the museum’ option. We can then grant you the discount on site. Please don’t forget to show your discount card at the reception. Payment can only be made via bancontact.

You will receive a group discount from a group of 15 people. Instead of €12 per person, you will then pay €10 per person for the permanent exhibition (and €14 instead of €16 for a combi ticket).

You can safely leave your belongings in a locker in the cloakroom. We also have group lockers. The person responsible for the group retains the key during the visit.

You can cancel a guided tour by contacting the Kazerne Dossin booking office. If you do this at least 72 hours in advance, you do not have to pay the fee for the guide. Admission tickets do not have to be paid for in all cases.

Every third Thursday of the month, you can join a guided tour through the permanent expo at 2.30 pm (duration: 2 hours, price: €12, under-21 years: €6). You can visit the temporary exhibition with a guide on the first Sunday of the month (duration: 90 minutes, price €12, under-21: €6), and can visit the Memorial with a guide on the second Sunday of the month (duration: 60 minutes, price €12, under-21 years: €6). Please book these tours online or via reservaties@kazernedossin.eu.

You can do this in our webshop. Check out all the options we offer and click on your choice. Are you having any problems? If so, please send a mail to reservaties@kazernedossin.eu.

If you have a valuable object concerning WWII, please contact our researchers by email on archives@kazernedossin.eu or by telephone +32 (0)15 29 06 60.