European Solidarity Centre

The European Solidarity Centre, designed by Polish architecture firm FORT Architects, was the winner of an international competition held in 2007. Its design, inspired by the hulls of ships built at the Gdańsk Shipyard, began construction in 2010 and was completed at a cost of 229 million złoty, with 113 million złoty (38.4 million euro) being provided by the European Union and the rest being locally funded.

The official opening ceremony of the European Solidarity Centre took place on 31st August 2014, on the 34th anniversary of the signing of the Gdańsk Agreement. This agreement was a significant victory for striking shipyard workers, leading to the foundation of the Solidarity movement. The opening ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Lech Wałęsa, co-founder of Solidarity and former President of Poland, the President of Poland Bronisław Komorowski, and Piotr Duda, the Chairman of Solidarity. The day before the opening ceremony was celebrated as a citizens' day, in which over 12,000 former Solidarity members and others participated.

The European Solidarity Centre has a significant role in recognizing and honoring foreigners who assisted the Polish opposition during the Communist regime. The centre awards Medals of Gratitude to these individuals as a symbol of gratitude for their contributions.

The permanent exhibition at the center boasts a collection of approximately 2,000 items, while its library houses a vast array of 100,000 books and documents. In addition, the center houses a research and academic center, hosts educational activities, and serves as a venue for conferences and temporary exhibitions.