10 Years In The Making – Rijksmuseum Re-Opens
Emerging back into the art world after years of detailed reconstruction, the Rijksmuseum has a new facelift and is ready to stun audiences. Transformed inside and out, the Rijksmuseum is an impressive Dutch museum that is world-famous for its art collections and its luxurious interior decoration. It is also the celebrated home of Rembrandt’s The Night Watch painting.
Over the past 10 years, this museum in the Netherlands has been exquisitely restored by Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos, an architectural company from Seville, Spain. Other architects have also played a major role in its restoration including Van Hoogevest and Jean-Michel Wilmotte.
Still retaining the original facade of its 19th-century building, the venue splendidly blends modernistic style with historic design, while still paying tribute to the vision of its founding designer, Pierre Cuypers (1827–1921).
Collection of changes
A vibrant new pavilion has been created using glass and stone sourced from Portugal. Encircled with water, this sparkling pavilion is spacious, and has been specifically made for the display of more than 300 ancient and contemporary pieces from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand.
Another significant change for the Rijksmuseum has been the redesign of its 80 interior galleries which reflect the depth and breadth of Dutch history and art. Arranged in set chronological order, it is possible to walk four separate floors and witness a visual journey from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
The appearance of new acquisitions, such as The Burgomaster of Delft and his Daughter (1655) by Jan Steen and The 'Golden Bend' in the Herengracht (1671-72) by Gerrit Berckheyde, are important contributions to the museum’s painting collection, and are made possible by the generosity of numerous financial sponsors.
Gardens for sculpture
Ten years of change have seriously rejuvenated the Rijksmuseum in more ways than one. Formal gardens now supplement the museum’s main building and act as a new ‘outdoor museum’ with fountain, greenhouse and playground. From June onwards, it will be an area dedicated to international sculpture exhibitions – the first of which will be works by the late English sculptor, Henry Moore.
After being closed for a decade, there’s never been a better time to see the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam than now. It’s fresh, new and exciting. Even finer than before, this is one museum that’s open for business and just waiting to welcome you through its doors.
