More problems for Rijksmuseum renovation

Thursday 02 April 2009

The long-running renovation of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum has received a further setback because only one contractor has applied to finish the job, Nos tv news reports on Thursday.

Various sources have told Nos that the one tender to complete the renovation of the main building may also be tens of millions of euros above the culture ministry's budget.

Last year, culture minister Ronald Plasterk ordered the tender process be done again because only one contractor - Bam - had come forward and its bid was almost €90m above the budget.

The Rijksmuseum has been closed since 2003 and should have reopened next year. But building and permit delays mean it will now be 2013 at the earliest before the revamped building opens its doors.

The renovation of the city’s most prestigious museum has been beset by problems. As well as the tender process, there have been disputes over permits, overall control of the project, whether or not to keep the cycling path under the building and where to place the new entrances.

© DutchNews.nl

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