The House of European History launched a collecting action in 2019 focussed on youth and climate change protests, to document these developments in Europe and allow future research. This action tied in with the museum’s second temporary exhibition “Restless Youth”.
Key items that were acquired included Greta Thunberg’s appeal in a public speech which she delivered at the “Civil Society for rEUnaissance” at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels on the 21st of February 2019.
The museum also received donations of banners used by students from Namur during climate change protests which took place in Brussels during January and February 2019. Additionally, the museum acquired a ‘plastic soup suit’ which was worn during a climate change march. The suit is made of a fishing net covered in plastic balloons which originated in the UK, yet were found on the coast of Belgium and northern France.
A selection of the objects were displayed temporarily in the Fables Room showcase of the House of European history in 2019. The plastic soup suit was previously on display in the Europe Now section on the sixth floor of the permanent exhibition, to reflect the current climate crisis that Europe is facing.
