Already at the relocation in the late 90s, the question was whether the NIOD – then the name Riod – would have a survival. Because, people wondered, has all information about the Second World War not collected and do we not all know the stories?
“We have a very rich history,” Eijckhoff explains. “But there are always new generations with new questions. Because war and violence plays a role in our world, young generations want to know how their ancestors used to do it.” New generations also seem to bring new perspectives. “For example, from oppressed groups that are less known about.”
For years to come
With the wars of this time, for example between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Palestine, it remains important to be able to contain life during a war. “Ukrainian museum staff recently came by to see how museums continue during the war under the regime of a occupier,” says Eijckhoff.
He would have liked to see that the institute would no longer be needed. “But wars are not out of the world for as long, I think we still have a very important task.”