The German embassy in Windhoek on Friday officially announced the financial support of over N$4 million for the major repair and rehabilitation of the historic Alte Feste building in Windhoek.
The initiative is being led through a joint partnership between the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture and the Namibia Art, Craft and Design Centre.
Making the announcement, minister counsellor and deputy head of mission of the German embassy, Florian Seitz, said Germany is pleased to support the project, adding that the renovations can facilitate the discussion about Germany’s historic legacy in Namibia among future generations.
“We are delighted to see the start of this new phase of work on the Alte Feste. We applaud our Namibian and international partners for their initiative to turn the Alte Feste into a vibrant place with multiple purposes, including cultural exchange and remembrance, and decided to support it with over N$4 million,” Seitz said.
Constructed in 1890 under German colonial rule, Alte Feste is the oldest historical building in Windhoek.
After World War I, it became the headquarters of South African Union troops and later a hostel for Windhoek High School until 1935.
After independence, it served as the National Museum before closing in 2014 due to structural disrepair.
The joint initiative aims to transform the ageing historical site into an accessible cultural, educational, and economic hub serving all communities in contemporary Namibia.
The Namibia Art, Craft and Design Centre is receiving N$4.2 million for the 2025/26 implementation period, funded through the German Federal Foreign Office’s Cultural Preservation Programme.
Once completed, the building is expected to serve as the new home of the Namibia Craft Centre and the future National Genocide Museum.
Other contributors to the project include the FirstRand Foundation and the arts ministry.
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