Rijksmuseum closes Schiphol branch due to roof leaks

The Rijksmuseum has temporarily closed its satellite location at Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport, where water from a leaking roof dripped onto display cases for weeks. The branch, located between lounges 2 and 3, opened in 2002 and was renovated in September 2017, showcasing ten 17th-century Dutch Golden Age paintings by artists including Jan van Goyen, Willem van Velde the Younger, Abraham Mignon, and Michiel van Mierevelt. The 167-square-meter S-shaped space was designed by NEXT Architects. On January 15, 2018, rainwater began leaking through the roof due to a fault. Although the ceiling was repaired the next day, leaks continued. Museum staff initially decided not to move the works, believing droplets could not reach the paintings. Airport personnel placed three large buckets next to the vitrines. After a January 24 inspection, the museum admitted the cases were not completely watertight but found no water inside. However, ongoing roof repairs took longer than expected, prompting the closure. The ten paintings and 17th-century tiles will be moved until work is complete, with a planned reopening in summer 2018. The museum stated no artworks were damaged.