The German government has committed N$3.2 million towards the restoration of the Alte Feste building in Windhoek with the aim of preserving Namibia’s cultural heritage.
According to a statement issued by the German Embassy in Windhoek, the funding will support extensive repairs and rehabilitation, ensuring the historic structure is repurposed as a national genocide museum as well as a centre of excellence for arts, crafts and heritage.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and the Namibia Craft Centre, with additional contributions from the United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, the FirstRand Foundation and the Namibian government. Work is set to begin in the second half of 2025.
German ambassador to Namibia Thorsten Hutter emphasised the project’s importance in fostering historical reflection.
“The renovations of the building can facilitate the discussion about the colonial legacy among future generations and help us to learn from history,” he said.
Constructed in 1890, the Alte Feste originally served as the headquarters of the German colonial troops (Schutztruppe). Over the years, the fort housed South African Union troops and later functioned as a hostel for Windhoek High School. In 1990, following Namibia’s independence, it became a national museum, before closing to the public in 2014 due to structural issues.
Germany has previously supported emergency preservation work at the Alte Feste in 2020 and has contributed over €1.5 million (about N$28.7 million) to cultural preservation efforts in Namibia since 1985.
According to the German Embassy, the renovation aims to turn the building into a place of cultural exchange and remembrance.
“We applaud our Namibian and international partners for this initiative,” Hutter added.
