WCM Netherlands: Contribute Your Memories

What is the War Childhood Museum and its collection?

The War Childhood Museum (WCM) is an international museum dedicated to documenting, preserving and presenting the experiences of children affected by war and armed conflict. Its collection brings together more than 7,000 personal objects and testimonies from 23 different conflicts, preserving individual memories of childhood during war and its aftermath. Through exhibitions, research, and education, WCM uses these personal stories to deepen understanding of the impact of war on children and to promote empathy, dialogue, and peace.

WCM’s Netherlands Initiative

In the Netherlands, thousands of people experienced war as children. Some grew up during the Second World War, while others came here fleeing wars in places such as Bosnia, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq or Ukraine. These are different wars and different times, but the stories of children who experience war often share the same human themes: loss, fear, displacement, friendship, resilience and hope. By focusing on what war does to children, rather than on the war itself, stories from different generations and backgrounds can connect and resonate with one another.

As part of a wider initiative to present the collection of the War Childhood Museum in The Hague through a major exhibition, we are now documenting new personal stories from people who were affected by war as children and now live in the Netherlands. We would like to hear about your memories: What did you experience? What did you carry with you from that period? And what meaning does that experience have for you today? These stories will become part of the War Childhood Museum’s collection, helping to document and communicate the impact of war on children.

Many of these stories are still largely invisible in Dutch society. This matters especially today: many people in the Netherlands carry their own experiences of war with them, and their stories can teach us how devastating war can be and why we must continue to protect peace and freedom. From The Hague, the international city of peace and justice, we want these stories to contribute to greater recognition, understanding and connection.

Has war also shaped your childhood? Share your story with us.

What Do We Collect?

Personal Belongings

Everyone has an item that reminds them of their childhood; so do people whose childhoods were affected by war. The War Childhood Museum collects books, letters, old photographs, improvised pieces of cloth, broken toys, or any other cherished items preserved to this day.

The true value of these objects lies in the personal experiences they represent. Each item is accompanied by a unique personal story, illustrating the lived experiences of their owners.

Video and Audio Testimonies

In addition to collecting wartime memorabilia, the War Childhood Museum also maintains an archive of audio and video testimonies.

These testimonies offer insights into the everyday lives of children during wartime, covering aspects such as family life, housing, living conditions, the presence of danger, experiences with shelling and sniper fire, displacement and life as a refugee, schooling, play and games, friendships, leisure activities, health, injuries, and significant losses experienced during the war.

What Are the Next Steps?

We aim to respond within 7 days. Please do not send or deliver any objects until we confirm that we can accept them. Once your contribution is confirmed, we will arrange a meeting, either in person or online, to discuss the necessary steps. We will also coordinate the delivery of the object. Please note that we will need to have consent forms and transfer of ownership paperwork completed before we can officially accept any objects. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

If Your Contribution is Accepted

Contributed materials will be preserved in the Museum archive (in The Hague or Sarajevo) in line with the museum industry standards. They can be featured in our permanent, traveling, or temporary pop-up exhibitions, used in educational workshops, or loaned to other accredited institutions.

Contributed materials will also be accessible for research purposes to curators, students, and researchers, always respecting data protection and privacy standards, as well as the preferences you state in the forms or during subsequent conversations. We always respect data protection and privacy standards as well as the preferences you state.

How Do We Preserve Your Objects?

What if the Object is Not Accepted?

While we deeply appreciate every offer, we regret that we can’t accept all objects. Several reasons may prevent us from doing so:

1. The current ownership of the objects is unknown or could be disputed.
2. Objects are hazardous, including firearms, items containing asbestos, and materials that are poisonous, carcinogenic, or radioactive.
3. The submission consists of photocopies or scans of original documents, except in rare circumstances.
4. Due to limited space in our archive, we may not be able to accept items that exceed a certain size.

If we can’t accept your object for our collection, we’ll do our best to refer you to another institution that might be able to accommodate it.