Rijksmuseum to open its first satellite branch in Eindhoven

Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum and Eindhoven council have announced plans for a new branch of the world-famous museum in the city, giving southern audiences direct access to works from the national collection.

The new museum will be built in a new park near the Dommel river, a few minutes’ walk from Eindhoven’s main railway station. The building will span more than 3,500 square metres, with detailed plans to be developed over the next year. It is scheduled to open in six to eight years’ time.

A spokesman for the museum told Dutch News the Eindhoven operation will be the first Rijksmuseum annex and that it will house revolving exhibitions based on its own collection.

Although top pieces from Amsterdam may be shown there, the focus will be on design, craftsmanship and technology, in line with Eindhoven’s industrial focus, the spokesman said.

Eindhoven mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem called the project “a great opportunity” and said the city is seizing it “with both hands”.

He described the future museum as “a valuable addition to the cultural climate of Brabant and far beyond”, and a place where “everyone, young and old, can enjoy a special combination of history and creativity”.

Eindhoven local council will fund the project, which, according to the Eindhoven Dagblad, will cost some €80 million. The city council still has to approve the plans.

Chip machinery maker ASML is on board as a founding partner and it, together with other local industries, will support the project’s running costs with sponsorship, the Rijksmuseum spokesman said.

ASML chief executive Christophe Fouquet said the company and its employees are “excited to support this initiative”. Bringing a world-renowned institution to the region “strengthens Brainport Eindhoven as a cultural destination and as a great place to live and work,” he said.

Eindhoven’s current museum selection includes the Van Abbemuseum, one of the first public museums for contemporary art to be established in Europe and Evoluon, the headquarters of Next Nature, an organisation that aims to raise awareness about the impact of technology on our lives and the planet.