- -Just a step from Anne Frank House, a new and important museum is to open soon – The World Peace Museum. Located in a modest Amsterdam town house, it presents a unique approach to its theme – it is apolitical, points to dangers of nationalism and isolationism, condemns war and violence of all kind, exhibits evils of militarism and points to the necessary change in education for future generations.
The beginnings of World Peace Museum
On the white wall of the entry hall a poem by John Donne from 1626, known from Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tools”. It opens with words:
On the white wall of the entry hall a poem by John Donne from 1626, known from Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tools”. It opens with words:
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
The poem has been written in 120 languages: we are all one human kind and there is no asking for whom the bell tolls.
The idea of World Peace seemed for centuries unrealistic. It has always been expected for all men to go through the military service and to serve and die fighting for their country. As long as the world has been divided into different political systems, fascism and Stalinism existed in the world, fight for freedom and democracy was the only possible solution.
Today, when the world has become one global village, when most of oppressive political systems have fallen, the perspective of world peace becomes realistic. Fighting the evil danger of terrorism of any kind, we should not loose this perspective. Hence the museum documenting history of the world peace idea, first as an element of several religions, than as an artistic utopia with several pieces of art represented and finally today, as the growing conviction among people.
The white and black museum
Through the Peace Treaties Hall, Red Cross and Red Crescent Hall, Nobel Peace Prize Hall, World Peace Leaders Hall, we walk into the white central room of World Peace, where several principles peace and tolerance have been written on the big white columns. The middle of the room has no roof, with raindrops falling in on rainy day and sun shinning through in summer. Unusual connection with nature, with stars visible in the evening, places the museum’s visitor back in the universe, where he or she belongs.
Through the Peace Treaties Hall, Red Cross and Red Crescent Hall, Nobel Peace Prize Hall, World Peace Leaders Hall, we walk into the white central room of World Peace, where several principles peace and tolerance have been written on the big white columns. The middle of the room has no roof, with raindrops falling in on rainy day and sun shinning through in summer. Unusual connection with nature, with stars visible in the evening, places the museum’s visitor back in the universe, where he or she belongs.
Only on sides of the Central Hall there are three small and narrow Black Rooms signalling the horrors of violence of all kind. Trailers of violent and cruel video games and movies are projected there in loops on several screens, while recent TV news flashes from the last war zones on earth depict horrors of war in the second room. Criminality and domestic violence as well as violence used by security forces towards their own populations, are accented in the third Black Room. Because of the content of the materials shown in all three black spaces, this area is recommended only to adult visitors.
The feel: Calming and instructive - visiting the World Peace exhibit may bring a pause of reflection and a respite from an everyday run. Leaving the museum, you might give more thought to the possibility of the permanent peace on earth and your role in achieving it.
Open: very soon
Admission: you may decide yourself about the admission price, any contribution, even the smallest one will be accepted. Also a small object which expresses the feeling of peace, will be taken by the museum as your admission donation. Many of these items are exhibited in the museum’s reception hall.
Address:
World Peace Museum, Amsterdam
Around the corner from the Anne Frank House,
on the other side, where you don't wait for the tickets.
World Peace Museum, Amsterdam
Around the corner from the Anne Frank House,
on the other side, where you don't wait for the tickets.
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