Frequently Asked Questions

The city of Antwerp wants to be as clear and transparent about the research and plans for the memorial as possible. This FAQ section answers frequently asked questions about each phase of the project.

PHASE 1: RESEARCH PHASE FAQ

Why is the city of Antwerp researching the names of victims of the Second World War?

The city of Antwerp wants to keep the memory of the Second World War alive and permanently anchored in society. Starting in 2025, a new memorial for all Antwerp victims of the Second World War will be erected on the quays of the Scheldt near the Eilandje district. The monument will display the names of deceased Antwerp war victims - an estimated 23,000. This will give visitors an idea of the enormous suffering the war caused in our city at a glance. To collect and verify all these names, the city of Antwerp is conducting extensive historical research.

The Antwerp Names Project offers insight into the names research. It is therefore the (digital) precursor of the actual memorial. It shows a list of the names of victims known to the FelixArchief – Antwerp City Archives. Use the search function to view the list of names. You can look up names, but also supply additional information about the victims, correct the spelling of a certain name or suggest any missing names.

Who is conducting the research?

The FelixArchief – Antwerp City Archives conducted the historical research into the names of Antwerp World War II victims from July 2018 until September 2024. The research used sources from various archives.

Which victims will go on the list of names?

The Antwerp Names Project lists the names of deceased war victims who have lived and/or died in Antwerp. There are four main groups: Holocaust victims, civilian victims of Nazi violence, civilian victims of military violence and military victims.

The city of Antwerp distinguishes four groups of victims:
• Holocaust victims (Jewish victims)
• Civilian victims of Nazi violence: those engaging in civil disobedience, forced labourers, resistance fighters and political prisoners
• Civilian victims of military violence: victims of bombings, V-weapons and other types of military conflict in Antwerp
• Military casualties: Belgian and international forces (allied soldiers and Antwerp prisoners of war)
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All these deceased victims had a connection to Antwerp. They lived and/or died in Antwerp and its suburbs (the current districts). Their deaths were the result of acts of war or war events. They were:
• People who died between the official start of World War II in Belgium (10 May 1940) and its end (31 December 1945)
• Victims who survived the camps and then lost their lives in the weeks and months during or after their repatriation (up until 31 December 1945)

The names project focuses on the victims who died. The new memorial will show their names only. However, the monument symbolically commemorates all the other victims as well: those who survived the war and carried the suffering inside them for the rest of their lives. It also commemorates the dead whose names we can no longer find.

Which sources does the city of Antwerp use to create the list of names?

The city of Antwerp consulted many sources. Some sources offer specific information on one particular group of victims. For the Jewish victims, for example, the research relies mainly on the Belgian Register of Jews, the transport lists of Kazerne Dossin and the so-called Drancy File. The information about the victims of Nazi violence comes mainly from the archives of the main Belgian resistance organisations (such as the White Brigade and the National Royalist Movement), the War Victims' Service and the Ministry of Defence Resistance Service. Other source material is more general and covers all the different groups. These include cemetery archives, the register office, statutory death certificates and many other official documents.

Can I see whether a victim is already on the list of names?

You can use this website’s search function to see whether a victim is included in the list of names. The name of the victim you are looking for may not have been entered yet. In that case, you can inform the FelixArchief – Antwerp City Archives here

You can use the search function of the Antwerp Names Project to look up the names that have been included in the list so far. Basic details of each victim will be displayed, as completely as possible: first name, surname, date of birth, place of birth, place of death, date of death, place of residence and address, occupation, marriage partner, cause of death, death details, cemetery, resistance movement and army information. In this way, the city of Antwerp aims to give the general public access to the ongoing research.

I have information about a victim: how can I share this?

Everyone can submit corrections, additions and new suggestions to the FelixArchief – Antwerp City Archives. You can do this by submitting an application here .

The list of names will also be incorporated onto the memorial. However, it will still be possible to add names and possibly remove them after the memorial has been completed.

The information about a listed victim is incorrect or incomplete. Can I suggest a correction?

Everyone can submit corrections, additions and new suggestions to the FelixArchief – Antwerp City Archives. We welcome all additional information. It is how we make sure the new memorial shows the right information. Corrections and additional information can be submitted by clicking on this link. Future additions and corrections also remain possible based on further scientific research.

I have documentation about a victim on the list (deeds, photos, ...). Can this contribute to the research? Can I submit it to the city of Antwerp?

Any additional documentation about a victim can contribute to the research. You can also (scan and) send photographs, deeds and other archive materials to the FelixArchief – Antwerp City Archives by clicking on this link.

PHASE 2: FAQ ON THE MEMORIAL

Who are we commemorating?

The memorial commemorates all the victims of World War II who lived and/or died in Antwerp.

World War II hit Antwerp very hard. No Belgian town or city had more fatalities. This was mainly due to the persecution and deportation of Antwerp Jews. Many Antwerp civilians also died during bomb onslaughts. The V-weapons that struck the city and the port between October 1944 and March 1945 were particularly devastating. Finally, the murderous Nazi regime also killed political prisoners, resistance fighters, forced labourers and soldiers.

The new memorial will display the names of all the war fatalities. This will immediately give an impression to visitors how many different people died in Antwerp. The Antwerp Names Project already allows people to search (part of) the list of names.

We also commemorate the dead whose names we can no longer find and the victims who managed to survive the war. The war scarred many of them for life. Even though the memorial does not explicitly mention their names, it also remembers them.

Why is the city erecting a new memorial?

The city of Antwerp wants to renew its commemoration of World War II. The memorial will be a place of remembrance where residents and visitors can reflect on the suffering during World War II. It will be a place of commemoration, reflection and educational activities. The monument will keep the memory of this hugely important period alive, and will pass on the tradition of commemoration to future generations.

In 2019 the city organised a comprehensive commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Antwerp. Since then, the city of Antwerp has organised many initiatives based on its central idea 'Freedom. Never taken for granted’ together with its partners: exhibitions, commemorations, lectures, newsletters, testimonies, easily accessible information, collections of objects and war stories, educational programmes and teaching packs. We are now adding the names project and memorial to those initiatives.

The new memorial aims to bridge the gap between the past, present and future: Antwerp's war history, how the war is perceived now and how it will continue to live on in future generations. It offers everyone the opportunity to reflect on the complexities of the war years. More than ever, we focus on the suffering of the many thousands of Antwerp war victims.

The city of Antwerp is erecting the new memorial to underline the importance of values such as freedom, equality and democracy. It is also a warning against indifference, racism and dehumanisation. Historical awareness can encourage citizens to take joint responsibility and actively counter disrespectful behaviour.

What names will we put on the monument?

The memorial will commemorate all the victims of World War II who lived and/or died in Antwerp. There are four main groups: Holocaust victims, civilian victims of Nazi violence, civilian victims of military violence and military victims.

The city of Antwerp distinguishes four groups of victims. All names will be displayed on the monument based on their group:

• Holocaust victims (Jewish victims)
• Civilian victims of Nazi violence: those engaging in civil disobedience, forced labourers, resistance fighters and political prisoners
• Civilian victims of military violence: victims of bombings, V-weapons and other types of military conflict in Antwerp
• Military casualties: Belgian and international forces (allied soldiers and Antwerp prisoners of war)

All these deceased victims had a connection to Antwerp. They lived and/or died in Antwerp and its suburbs (the current districts). Their deaths were the result of acts of war or war events. They were:
• People who died between the official start and end of World War II in Belgium (10 May 1940 and 8 May 1945)
• Victims who survived the camps and then lost their lives in the weeks and months during or after their repatriation (until 31 December 1945).

The FelixArchief – Antwerp City Archives is creating an inventory of these names. The historical research will never fully end. This means that changes can still be made once the memorial has been erected.

The memorial will only display the names of victims who have been killed, but it will certainly pay attention to the many other victims as well. It is also there for all those who managed to survive the war and carried the suffering inside them for the rest of their lives. It also will commemorate the dead whose names we are no longer able to find.

How many names will be on the monument?

The number of deceased Antwerp war victims is currently estimated at about 23,000. You can look at the Antwerp Names Project counter to see the number of names that have been confirmed so far.

The number of victims’ names to be included on the monument is certainly not final yet. We now have these indicative numbers:

• Over 3 in 5 fatalities – about 15,400 – were Jewish.
• The research has currently found about 1,185 names of civilian victims of Nazi violence, possibly 1,320. These include people engaging in civil disobedience, forced labourers, resistance fighters and political prisoners
• So far, 5,209 civilians are known to have lost their lives due to military war violence, such as the V-bombing and other military confrontations in the city. Further research may increase this number to a maximum of 5,439.
• On the military side, some 600 864 Belgian soldiers certainly died in Antwerp, but that number could still rise to 1,680.

The research into the names of victims will not end when the memorial is finished. We will continue to complete and correct the existing lists and information with new information well after the cornerstone has been laid in 2024.

Where will the memorial be located?

The new monument will be located near the Pilotage Building on the Orteliuskaai in Antwerp. This spot is located on the quays along the Scheldt near the Antwerp district of 't Eilandje

The location of the memorial was chosen very carefully. The site of the Pilotage Building is very visible to all and connects the city centre and the port, which were two important areas during World War II. The location is also close to the Red Star Line Museum, the FelixArchief – Antwerp City Archives and MAS museum. These three institutions are all part of the city's 'memory'. In 2023, the exhibition ‘City at war. Antwerp 1940-1945’, about World War II and Antwerp, was opened at the MAS. The exhibition focuses on the personal experiences of all Antwerp citizens during that difficult time.

The site of the Pilotage Building is being developed as a sub-project of the master plan for the reconstruction of the quays along the Scheldt. The design and construction of the memorial will be integrated in this development. Read more here.

What will the memorial look like?

In January 2022, an international design competition resulted in the selection of a design team for the area development of the Pilotage site on the quays along the River Scheldt. The multidisciplinary design team is managed by Bureau Bas Smets. The team will reorganise the public space and integrate the monument to commemorate the victims of World War II in Antwerp.

The site is located between the US Army Monument and Bonaparte Dock and is crossed by historic ‘vlieten’ or fleets, which is the Old Dutch term for watercourses: Brouwersvliet, Sint-Pietersvliet and Koolvliet. The current street pattern still reflects the former inner-city port. The design of the names monument is based on the walls of these watercourses. The sketches below give an idea of what the monument will look like.

The monument will consist of six memorial walls, together forming three intimate gardens of remembrance. This will create several quiet areas and small-scale meeting spaces on the quay, where different communities and generations can gather to commemorate the casualties of war.

The name of each victim will be engraved on a separate natural stone. The position of the names in the watercourse walls will invite visitors to take a walk along the memory gardens. Together, more than 23,000 memorial stones will make up 336 metres of memorial walls. This impressive number of individual stones representing the war casualties will help people to better understand the impact of World War II.

The various stones will be arranged according to different groups of victims along the watercourse walls. The aim is to use the same material depending on the number of decades the victim lived. This will clearly show how many people died in each age group and will also interconnect the different groups of victims.

How will the memorial be used in the future?

The memorial monument creates an opportunity to commemorate and meet together. That is why it is open and accessible to everyone.

The memorial is open to everyone. Its first objective is to be a place for people with a strong connection to the victims. But everyone can find a place there to remember and honour these victims.

It encourages visitors to think about the great suffering of the people of Antwerp and about Antwerp's complex war history.

The memorial also focuses on the violence and traumas from the past with remembrance education, school visits and references to the exhibition at the nearby MAS museum. Its location along the Scheldt makes the monument a place of peace and reflection.

Is this the only monument commemorating World War II in Antwerp?

No, Antwerp already has many historical monuments and commemorative plaques. They have an important historical and emotional value, and of course they will continue to exist alongside the new memorial.

Some of the existing war memorials are large and impressive. Others are smaller and more intimate. They are often dedicated to specific victim groups. Some monuments even commemorate both world wars. These monuments and commemorative plaques often play an important role in (local) communities and will certainly continue to do so in the future.

A unique feature of the new memorial is that it brings together all the names of the Antwerp casualties from World War II for the first time.

What are the next steps?

If all goes well, the reconstruction of the Pilotage site will start in 2025. That is also when the name monument’s cornerstone will be laid. In the meantime, the FelixArchief has completed its comprehensive name research. You can follow the results of the Antwerp Names Project on this website.

The Antwerp Names Project is the digital precursor of the memorial. It shows a preliminary list of the names of victims already known to the FelixArchief. The families of the victims and other interested parties can use the search function to view the current status of the research into the names. It is possible to look up names, supply additional information on the victims, correct the spelling of a certain name or suggest any missing names.

When the list of names is more or less finalised (although there will always be room for corrections and additions), we can start integrating the names onto the physical memorial. A digital monument will also be developed so that people can also commemorate (individual) victims online.