National Museum of Namibia (Alte Feste) in Windhoek, Namibia

The National Museum of Namibia has, for many years, been housed in the Alte Feste, an old German Fort in the capital of Windhoek.  In March 2014, the material related to the independence movement has moved to the new Independence Museum.  The National Museum of Namibia still tells the story of the peoples and the land before the war against colonialism began.  We look forward to the reports by field agents of the objects in their new surrounds.

It is the oldest building still standing in Windhoek and was a German Fort (Germany was the colonial power before South Africa seized the land in 1915) whose construction began in 1890. It may be ironic to have the National Museum in such a structure, but the straightforward celebration of Namibia’s heritage works well there.  It provides a good overview of the treasures of rock art that spread generously around the country.  Walking around this old fort and enjoying the displays, one can’t escape the ways that Namibia’s story is both heartrending and extraordinarily rich.