Adolf Hitler’s birthplace in Braunau am Inn officially reopened Wednesday as an Austrian police complex, part of a government effort to end the building’s appeal as a destination for neo-Nazis. Around 50 officers will work at the site near the German border, which will house both the local police station and the Braunau district police command.

Austria debated the building’s future for years. Officials feared that leaving it empty would preserve its symbolic value, while turning it into a museum could attract even more visitors because of its connection to Hitler. Demolition was also rejected over concerns that it could appear to erase history. Police will now actively operate from the building rather than simply guard it.

“Today’s police, our Austrian federal police, are the exact opposite of the symbolism associated with this place,” Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said. “Our police stand for democracy and the rule of law.” Parts of the complex will also be used for human-rights training, while a memorial stone outside will remain in place.

Austria spent approximately €20 million renovating the building and making it less recognizable. The ochre-yellow exterior was painted white, arched windows were replaced and the facade was extended upward. Construction debris was secretly disposed of to prevent extremists from collecting pieces as Nazi memorabilia. The site continued to attract far-right visitors in recent years, including four Germans who left white roses there in 2024, with one woman allegedly performing a prohibited Hitler salute.

Critics say Austria went too far in making the site ordinary and failed to create a substantial educational component. “A unique historical opportunity was missed to use the birthplace of history’s greatest mass murderer in a lasting and historically responsible way,” said Eveline Doll of the local Diskurs Hitlerhaus initiative.