The world's first publicly accessible museum depot opens in Rotterdam

The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam is taking a new step in the museum world: the museum's depot, a massive new building almost 40 meters high, will be opened to visitors. This will enable the museum to make all 151,000 works publicly accessible at any time. In the curated exhibitions, only about eight percent of the collection was on display.

But it is not only the artworks that are visible, but also the museum's work itself. Behind the many glass walls, artworks are restored, exhibitions are planned and artworks are prepared for transport. Guided tours through the large halls of the depot are also offered. The building itself has been planned in a future-oriented way by architect Winy Maas and interior designer John Körmeling. Sustainably sourced and recycled materials have been used, rainwater is collected for toilet flushing and solar cells on the roof provide as much of the required electricity as possible.

King Willem-Alexander opened the depot ceremonially on November 05, and it is now open to the public from November 07. Meanwhile, the actual museum building is expected to be renovated until 2026, when new exhibitions will complement operations at the depot.