Contractors appointed for Museum Boijmans renovation

ROTTERDAM, 15 October 2026 – The long-awaited renovation of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has cleared another major hurdle. Construction combination J.P. van Eesteren & Dura Vermeer and technical installer Koninklijke Kuijpers have been selected to carry out the work, with the museum expected to reopen from late 2030.

_{Image: Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Rotterdam. Photo: Mecanoo}

Renovation moves into next phase

The procurement process for Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has now been given the go-ahead after months of talks over costs, risks and the practical execution of the design.

The Municipality of Rotterdam, architecture firm Mecanoo, the museum and the contractors spent the past three months reviewing the plans and budgets in an effort to keep the project financially workable without stripping away the core ambitions of the final design.

The result is a revised approach that preserves as much of the approved design as possible while changing elements of the construction process and reducing risks.

Rotterdam alderman Diederik van Dommelen, whose portfolio includes municipal property and oversight of the Boijmans renovation, said the shared aim had been to keep the project moving within the available constraints.

“Over the past three months, we have had intensive discussions about the same goal: the renovation of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has to be completed, as far as possible on time, within budget and within the design. Everyone was highly motivated to find a solution. We discussed how the work could be carried out more efficiently and which possible subsidies we can apply for. I am pleased that the design has remained intact and that we can award the project to the contractor and installer. We can move on to the next phase.”

Builders start technical preparations this month

J.P. van Eesteren & Dura Vermeer and Koninklijke Kuijpers are due to begin work at the end of October.

That does not mean the full building work starts immediately. The first phase involves further technical development of Mecanoo's design together with advisers, the municipality and the museum. The teams will also draw up the detailed construction schedule and work out logistics and the organisation of the building site.

Once that phase has been completed successfully, the main execution can begin.

The appointment marks a major change from the uncertainty earlier this year, when rising costs and difficult market conditions put pressure on the procurement process.

Independent coverage published on 15 October also confirms the appointment of J.P. van Eesteren & Dura Vermeer and Koninklijke Kuijpers, as well as the late-2030 reopening expectation.

Restoring the old while changing how visitors enter

The renovation is not intended to replace the museum with an entirely new building.

Mecanoo's design instead combines restoration of the historic complex with major improvements to access, visitor routes, logistics and the museum's relationship with Museumpark.

The Municipality of Rotterdam says the Van der Steur building and Bodon wing will be restored, while the entrance, visitor facilities, exhibition possibilities and internal logistics will all be improved. The wider plan also aims to strengthen the spatial relationship between the city, the museum and Museumpark.

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen closed its main building in 2019 because of serious problems including asbestos, water damage, fire-safety issues and years of deferred maintenance.

Acting museum director Sandra Kisters said the latest agreement means the project can finally move from preparation towards actual construction.

“I am pleased that all the joint efforts have resulted in a feasible plan in which ambition and functionality remain intact. This is an important milestone for the museum and the city. After years of preparation, we are now really going to build the future. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen will reopen.”

Kisters also paid tribute to the museum's recently deceased director Ina Klaassen, saying her years of work on the renewal had helped make the latest step possible.

Mecanoo design remains largely intact

Architect Francine Houben of Mecanoo said preserving the museum's history remained central to the project.

“Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is an icon of Rotterdam. With our design, we cherish the rich history of the museum and its magnificent collection while giving it a new future: accessible and inviting to everyone. I am incredibly happy that we are now actually going to realise the plans.”

The final design was approved at the end of 2025. Current municipal renovation information still describes the project as a large-scale restoration and modernisation intended to make the building more accessible, sustainable and suitable for future exhibitions.

Reopening expected from late 2030

The current expectation is that Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen will once again welcome visitors from late 2030.

The municipality and museum had already been working towards a 2030 reopening, and current official renovation pages continue to use 2030 as the target year.

Until then, much of the collection remains accessible through Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen next door, which continues to host exhibitions and activities while the main museum is closed.

The reopening would bring an end to more than a decade in which Rotterdam's main Boijmans building has been closed to regular visitors.

How to get there

The main Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen building is currently closed for renovation and cannot be visited. Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen remains open at Museumpark 24, next to the museum site.

Metro lines A, B and C stop at Eendrachtsplein, while tram 7 stops at Museumpark.