Originally scheduled to be finished on 9 November 1996 , the 58th anniversary of Kristallnacht , the completion was delayed for four years due to various controversies both political and aesthetic , but also setbacks due to concerns over the archaeological excavations beneath the site . The total costs paid by the city of Vienna were 160 million Schillings , including 8 million for the memorial by Rachel Whiteread , 15 million for planning , 23 million for the beginning of construction work , 40 million for structural measures for Misrachi-Haus , and 74 million for the archaeological viewing area . The memorial was unveiled on 25 October 2000 , one day before the Austrian national holiday . In attendance was the President of Austria Thomas Klestil , Mayor of Vienna Michael Häupl , President of the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien Ariel Muzicant , Simon Wiesenthal , Rachel Whiteread , and further dignitaries and guests . The memorial was created five years before the erection of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht
Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial