Barak 56, Transit camp barracks in Westerbork, Netherlands
Barak 56 is a wooden structure with double-walled pine construction, insulated with glass wool and an entrance facing the main road. The building was transported here from its original location in Zelhem, where it had served as a farm shed, and then reconstructed on site.
The building was constructed in 1942 and initially housed Jewish prisoners, before being converted in 1943 into a work facility where inmates dismantled batteries. After the war, it was repurposed entirely as housing for another community.
The barracks was part of a network of 24 large structures that defined the camp during the German occupation. Visitors can see today how such buildings shaped the daily lives of those held here.
The building can be visited as part of the Westerbork Memorial Center and provides insight into the conditions within the camp. It is advisable to check opening times beforehand and allow enough time for a reflective walk through the site.
After the war, the barracks was converted into apartments for Moluccan residents, with additional kitchen buildings and interior modifications that created entirely different living conditions. This transformation reveals a striking contrast between its two phases of use.
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