The National Archives officially inaugurated their new building in Belval on Friday, directly opposite the blast furnaces.
It is a symbolic location for an institution whose mission is to preserve the country's memory. The project was launched in 2003 through an international architectural competition. Over the following years, however, the government decided to revise the project and realise it in stages. In 2014, it was decided to postpone the project to a later date. Ultimately, the project was approved by the Chamber of Deputies in the summer of 2020 with a budget of €77 million.
The new site offers more than 25,000 m² of gross floor space and over 100 linear kilometres of archival capacity, allowing millions of documents charting Luxembourg's history over several centuries to be preserved securely. The building is already partially operational: the reading room opened in June, and the inauguration ceremony was held on Friday in the presence of the grand-ducal couple.
For Minister for Culture Eric Thill, the move marks an important milestone. Thill noted that for the National Archives teams, the new space means better working conditions, and for researchers and the public, better access to Luxembourg's history. Meanwhile, the country benefits from a guarantee that the shared memory of its population will be preserved for the long term, Minister Thill said. Minister for Public Works Yuriko Backes, meanwhile, stressed the importance of the new space at a time when disinformation is gaining ground. In times of fake news, Backes said, it is essential to protect the country's documentary heritage. In her view, creating places where people can reflect in peace strengthens democracy.
Transferring the archives is a colossal undertaking. More than 300 lorries have already been loaded and unloaded, and the work is ongoing. The Director of the National Archives, Josée Kirps, explained that for months, the National Archives teams have been "packing, labelling, scanning, counting and checking." Summarising the painstaking operation, Kirps stressed that more than 150,000 barcodes have been attached, three lorries loaded each day, and almost 11,000 kilometres travelled between the capital and Belval. If all goes according to plan, the move will be completed in December, just before she retires. Her successor, Corinne Schroeder, will officially take up her post on 7 November.
The public will be able to explore the new building this weekend: it will be open to visitors on Saturday and Sunday from 1pm. It is a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes at one of the most important places preserving Luxembourg's memory.
