Train World Unveils Exhibition on Belgian Railways' Complex Wartime Role

New Exhibition Explores Belgian Railways During WWII

Train World, the official museum of the Belgian National Railway Company (SNCB/NMBS), has inaugurated a significant new exhibition titled 'Belgian Railways under Occupation: between Collaboration and Resistance.' Located in Schaerbeek, Brussels, the exhibition opened on September 25, 2025, with public access beginning the following day, and is scheduled to run until June 28, 2026.

The exhibition delves into a challenging chapter of Belgian history, examining the role of the country's railway system during the German occupation in World War II. It aims to shed light on the profound moral dilemmas faced by the SNCB, which, as Belgium's largest employer and a vital transport hub, quickly came under the control of the occupying forces.

Collaboration and Resistance: A 'Grey Story'

The narrative presented explores the dual nature of the SNCB's operations during the war. While the railway company continued to run trains, ostensibly 'in the interest of the country' to ensure the supply of raw materials and foodstuffs, it also participated in the deportations. Between 1941 and 1944, Belgian Railways were involved in transporting forced laborers, political prisoners, Jews, and Roma to Germany and concentration camps in Eastern Europe.

Despite this, the exhibition also highlights acts of internal resistance within the company. Thierry Denuit, director of Train World, characterized the SNCB's wartime stance as 'a grey story,' stating, 'The story of SNCB is a story between collaboration and resistance.' The exhibition explores the 'policy of the lesser evil' adopted by the company, caught between serving the public interest and compromising with a dictatorship.

Academic Grounding and Educational Outreach

The exhibition is a direct outcome of extensive academic research conducted by CegeSoma (Study Centre for War and Contemporary Society) at the request of the Belgian government. Nico Wouters, the exhibition's curator, also authored a book on the subject in 2024, further detailing the SNCB's wartime past.

As part of the SNCB's broader remembrance work, the exhibition emphasizes its educational value. It offers comprehensive teaching materials, lectures, testimonies, and documentation, with over 300 school classes from across Belgium already scheduled to visit. The initiative underscores the company's commitment to ensuring its complex wartime role is never forgotten.