ROTTERDAM, 10 October 2026 – Museum Rotterdam has appointed Onno de Zwart as chair of its Supervisory Board, while Rotterdam-born psychiatrist, poet and performer Roan Kasanmonadi joins as a new board member. The appointments come as the museum prepares for major changes, including its new home at Het Steiger and the development of a shared collection centre in Zevenkamp.
Image: Museum Rotterdam is strengthening its Supervisory Board as the museum prepares for a new phase at Het Steiger and the development of Collectie Centrum Rotterdam. Rotterdam psychiatrist, poet and performer Roan Kasanmonadi (left) joins the Supervisory Board of Museum Rotterdam. Onno de Zwart (right) has been appointed chair of the Supervisory Board of Museum Rotterdam. Photo: Lotte Stekelenburg
New leadership during a major transition
Museum Rotterdam is strengthening its Supervisory Board at a moment when several long-term projects are moving forward.
The museum recently received the keys to its new location at Het Steiger, where its first pop-up exhibition is scheduled to open before the end of 2026. Work is also continuing on a renewed entrance building, while Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU will move from Coolhaven to the same site.
At the same time, preparations are under way for the Collectie Centrum Rotterdam in Zevenkamp, a new collection facility expected to be completed in 2031.
The Supervisory Board, or Raad van Toezicht, oversees the museum's management and long-term direction. Museum Rotterdam says the arrival of De Zwart and Kasanmonadi adds new experience in public affairs, governance, culture, strategy and the city itself at a particularly important point in its development.
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Onno de Zwart becomes chair
Onno de Zwart, born in Amstelveen in 1967, studied social history at Erasmus University Rotterdam and has spent much of his career working in public and social organisations.
His previous positions include serving on the management team of the GGD public health service and as director of Welfare, Care and Youth at the Municipality of Rotterdam. From 2019 to 2025, he was director and executive board member of the Verwey-Jonker Institute.
Since May 2025, De Zwart has been director and network leader at Kwaliteit en Blijvend Leren (KBL).
He also brings extensive supervisory experience. He currently chairs Stichting Straatzorg Rotterdam and sits on the Supervisory Board of Halt. Previous roles include chairing the Supervisory Board of Entrea Lindenhout and serving as a supervisor at Pharos and Aids Fonds - Soa Aids Nederland.
De Zwart said Museum Rotterdam's move to Het Steiger marks the beginning of a new phase:
“Museum Rotterdam is entering a new phase at Het Steiger. An inspiring place to connect the museum even more closely with all Rotterdammers and visitors. Together with my colleagues, I am pleased to contribute as a supervisor to making these plans a reality. Rotterdam deserves a museum that inspires, surprises, delights, challenges, connects and moves people.”
Roan Kasanmonadi joins the board
Roan Kasanmonadi, born in 1995, was born and raised in Rotterdam. He works as a psychiatrist at Erasmus MC and combines his clinical work with PhD research into treatments for severe depression.
His work also extends well beyond medicine. Kasanmonadi is a poet, dancer and spoken-word artist. He made his literary debut in 2024 with Vuurbloem, published by Lebowski Publishers, and his next poetry collection, De dolenden, is due in 2027.
He is also an editor at literary magazine De Revisor and previously gained governance and strategic experience within the Dutch Association for Psychiatry.
Kasanmonadi said the role brings together several parts of his own connection with Rotterdam:
“I am very happy to have the opportunity to bring together my love for Rotterdam, its residents, art and education within the Supervisory Board of Museum Rotterdam. It is incredibly special that the museum, which explicitly pays attention to communities that do not automatically come into contact with museums, now has a beautiful new location right in the city centre at Het Steiger.”
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Het Steiger becomes increasingly central
The appointments arrive while Museum Rotterdam is rebuilding its physical presence in the city.
Its move into Het Steiger will eventually bring more of the museum's activities together at one central location. The first pop-up exhibition is expected before the end of 2026, while the longer-term development of the site continues.
Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU, currently based at Coolhaven, will also relocate to Het Steiger. The move brings the museum's collection, exhibitions and stories about Rotterdam's wartime history closer together.
Further east, the planned Collectie Centrum Rotterdam in Zevenkamp will provide a new home for heritage collections. The facility is expected to be completed in 2031 and forms another major part of the museum's long-term development.
The arrival of De Zwart and Kasanmonadi therefore comes at a point when Museum Rotterdam is moving from planning into a more visible phase of construction, relocation and renewed public programming.
