Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen opens construction site to public for 175th anniversary

For its 175th anniversary, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam opened its raw construction site to the public through the project 'Snakken naar Boijmans' (Longing for Boijmans). The museum closed in 2019 for asbestos removal and renovation. The project, part of Rotterdam Architecture Month, allowed visitors to explore the stripped-down building, wearing safety helmets. Six artists—Melanie Bonajo, Adrianus Kundert, Elie van Rijckevorsel, Berndnaut Smilde, Esther Tielemans, and Johannes Langkamp—installed works that interacted with the space. Bonajo's multimedia installation 'When the Body says Yes', originally shown at the 2022 Venice Biennale, featured soft cushions and warm curtains. Smilde's '10 seconds of Ether' created small clouds indoors, highlighting climate factors. The project attracted over 40,000 visitors. Renovation plans by Mecanoo include a central plaza and improved circulation, with completion expected in five years. The museum's archive has moved to the Depot by MVRDV.