The European Solidarity Centre is a must-see on any trip to Gdańsk. It was here that the peaceful revolution of Solidarity was born, the only successful Polish uprising, which gave the country its second independence.
A building with walls covered in corten steel, a rusty colour, and a shape reminiscent of a ship under construction, is an example of bold, contemporary architecture.
At its heart is a modern permanent exhibition, covering nearly 3,000 sq. metres on the 1st and 2nd floors. Visitors immerse themselves in the history of Poland's path to freedom, told through archival objects, documents, manuscripts, photographs, video projections, and interactive installations. Almost 1,800 objects await, including the biggest star – the 21 Postulates Tablet written at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk during the strike in August ’80. You can explore the exhibition independently or be guided by an audio guide (there is a path for families with children, many language versions, and for people with special needs). The visit takes approx. 2 hours on average. The exhibition was honoured with the prestigious European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra 2021.
The permanent exhibition is complemented by the exhibition SHIPYARD | MAN. INDUSTRY. CITY, devoted to the multifaceted heritage of the Gdańsk Shipyard –
It is a gripping tale about people, not just ships.
The European Solidarity Centre was built in the immediate vicinity of the former Gdańsk Shipyard, the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970 (the first monument in Europe commemorating victims of communist rule and the first whose construction was decided by citizens themselves), and the most important gate in Poland, Gate No. 2 of the Gdańsk Shipyard.
ECS is also a place for social and cultural activities. Solidarity Daily operates here – a space for the activist community and a library. Exhibitions, educational and family workshops, author meetings, debates, conferences, and cultural events such as the All About Freedom Festival film festival are organised.
The ECS was the first museum in our country to receive the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) 2016, and the historic grounds of the Gdańsk Shipyard, along with the ECS, hold the European Heritage Label.
