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Historic Alte Feste Building to Undergo Major Facelift with German Support

Windhoek: The German Embassy in Windhoek officially announced on Friday the provision of financial support exceeding N.dollars four million for the substantial repair and rehabilitation of the historic Alte Feste building in Windhoek. This initiative is being spearheaded through a collaborative partnership between the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC) and the Namibia Art, Craft and Design Centre (Craft Centre).

According to Namibia Press Agency, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy, Florian Seitz, expressed Germany's pleasure in supporting the project. Seitz highlighted the potential of the renovations to facilitate discussions regarding Germany's historical 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.dollars four million," Seitz stated.

Constructed in 1890 during German colonial rule, Alte Feste is the oldest historical building in Windhoek. Following World War I, it served as the headquarters for South African Union troops and later functioned as a hostel for Windhoek High School until 1935. After Namibia gained independence, the building was used as the National Museum until its closure in 2014 due to structural deterioration.

The joint initiative aims to transform the aging historical site into an accessible cultural, educational, and economic hub that serves all communities in contemporary Namibia. The Namibia Art, Craft and Design Centre is set to receive N.dollars 4.2 million for the 2025-2026 implementation period, with funding provided through the German Federal Foreign Office's Cultural Preservation Programme.

Once renovations are completed, the building is expected to house the Namibia Craft Centre and the future National Genocide Museum. Additional contributors to the project include the FirstRand Foundation and MEIYSAC.