Art in the Depot

2022/09/28

It looks like a giant flower pot with a shiny surface that reflects the surroundings: The Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot in Rotterdam. The world-famous Boijmans Van Beuningen Rotterdam art museum is currently undergoing renovation - and this will continue until 2028. 

Specifically created to safely store and care for the art objects in the collection during this time, the Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot was built directly next to the museum. It is the world's first publicly accessible art depot that opens up the entire collection of a museum to the public and at the same time provides insights into the functioning of a museum behind the scenes. The depot is a total work of art and a new design icon for Rotterdam, designed - like the Markthal - by the architectural firm MVRDV.

 The depot has fourteen departments, equipped with shelves and cabinets for a wide variety of artworks. There are compartments for paintings, metal objects, organic and inorganic materials, as well as black and white and color photography. The depot compartments are climate-controlled, maintaining stable temperature and humidity. From the access path, staircase, and elevator, the artworks can be viewed from different angles. With a guide, visitors can also enter a storage section.

We visited the depot and were impressed by its unique architecture and furnishings. Including a guided tour with a guide and a delicious sandwich at the restaurant on the rooftop terrace. From there, you can also enjoy a unique view of Rotterdam.