700.000 to 900.000 people have been visiting annually the Memorial Site of the former Concentration Camp Dachau, about the half of that is young people. Since there is no place to stay overnight for people wishing to stay longer near the memorial site, the idea to establish an International Youth Hostel in Dachau is born.

a group initiating an "International Youth Hostel Dachau" is set up, which is three years later turned into a development association "Förderverein Internationale Jugendbegegnungsstätte Dachau e.V.".

youth camps as a preliminary step to a hostel have been regularly organized in Dachau.

the Development Association and the Bavarian Youth Association (BJR) compile plans and concepts for an International Youth Hostel in Dachau and present them to the public, followed by lively discussions and public disputes.

The Dachau City Council declines the presented proposals.

The Bavarian Department for Education, Science and Culture presents new proposals.

based on these proposals, the Bavarian Parliament "Landtag" decides to build an International Youth Hostel in Dachau.

the State of Bavaria, the City of Dachau and the County of Dachau set up a charitive foundation to build and run the International Youth Hostel.

architects' competition for design and architecture of the International Youth Hostel.

Laying of the corner stone

May 4, 1998