Green light for renovation of Amsterdam Museum 

Supreme court rules: rebuilding started 

The Council of State has given the City of Amsterdam the green light on appeal to renovate the Amsterdam Museum's main location on Kalverstraat. The Amsterdam Museum will have more and much better space for collection and public, become more sustainable and fully accessible. The renovation, which will now actually go ahead due to this State Council ruling, balances the strength of the centuries-old monument with everything necessary for a museum of today and the future. 

Touria Meliani, Alderman for Arts and Culture of the City of Amsterdam: 

"I welcome the positive ruling by the Council of State for the plans to renovate the Amsterdam Museum. The building and its unique history play an important role for the neighbourhood, the people of Amsterdam and the city as a whole. A thorough renovation will allow us to adapt and make the museum more sustainable. Accessibility will be improved and the collection will be shown to its best advantage. It is a good step forward for the future of the museum."

Judikje Kiers, director, Amsterdam Museum: 

"We are extremely happy with this ruling by the Council of State. It means that the implementation of Neutelings Riedijk Architects' good and well-considered design can now really begin. Through adjustments that do justice to the monumental value of the building, and that are a great improvement for collection and public, accessibility and sustainability, we will continue to be able to perform our function in the heart of this city centre in the future. On behalf of all colleagues at the Amsterdam Museum, I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us in many ways." 

Monastery, orphanage and museum 

Its location in the heart of the historic city centre that has housed the Amsterdam Museum since 1975 and the rich history of the building make the former Citizens' Orphanage the ideal place for the city museum. It housed a convent and later an orphanage for almost four hundred years. The Civic Orphanage is an essential part of the story of the city and the museum and is among the masterpieces of the collection. Retaining the museum at this location will keep the story of the place told and the Civil Orphanage accessible to all.  

City museum of the future 

While the former Civil Orphanage is the ideal location for the museum, it was never built as a museum. Its limitations are problematic and stand in the way of a 21st-century visitor experience. The Amsterdam Museum receives many more visitors than the building can currently handle. The level differences and routing limit accessibility for people with physical disabilities. The small room dimensions make it impossible to display the diversity of pieces in the collection. Large masterpieces are now housed elsewhere - such as in the Amsterdam Museum wing at the H'ART Museum - or remain in storage. Daylight, climate and sustainability also require substantial modernisation. Since 2016, the Amsterdam Museum and the City of Amsterdam, as owner of the building complex, have therefore been working together with many experts on plans to renovate the historical monument on Kalverstraat and make it fit for the future.  

Design 

The licensed design by Neutelings Riedijk Architects is based on the following principles: more space for collection and public, accessibility, visibility and sustainability. The core of the design consists of making a spacious and multifunctional entrance area, creating a logical museum route and adding new museum rooms. This will make the museum a more efficient, spacious, flexible and sustainable building. The design also increases the recognisability and visibility of the new Amsterdam Museum.  

Open in 2028 

The municipality is now proceeding with the tendering process. The commitment is to start the first work on the building in 2025. 

The municipality, as owner of the building, will bear the costs of the conversion of the shell. Through fundraising and sponsorship, the Amsterdam Museum finances the interior of the permanent presentation, temporary programming and public spaces. The central government contributes subsidies for preservation and maintenance of the monument. 

The new Amsterdam Museum is expected to open its doors in 2028. Until then, the Amsterdam Museum will continue to hold exhibitions at Amstel 51 (H'ART Museum), Huis Willet-Holthuysen on Herengracht and at various locations with various partners throughout the city.  

About the lawsuit

In November 2022, the municipality of Amsterdam granted the permit for the renovation of the Amsterdam Museum. In July 2023, the Friends of the Amsterdam Inner City (VVAB) and Heemschut started an appeal against the permit. On 4 July 2023, the Amsterdam court ruled in favour of the municipality and the museum. The judges declared the heritage associations' objections unfounded on all points. On 10 August 2023, the VVAB filed an appeal with the Council of State. That case was heard on 29 May 2024. 

Today, 16 October 2024, the verdict came: "The main issue in this court case was whether the Municipal Executive had made a proper balancing of interests between, on the one hand, the interest of Amsterdam Museum for a renovation and, on the other hand, the interest of monument conservation. In the opinion of the Administrative Law Division, this is the case and the monumental interest does not oppose the granting of the permit. Thus, the decision of the municipal executive to grant the permit was based on several investigations, including a positive opinion from the National Cultural Heritage Agency. The association's objections to these do not give reason to doubt the diligence or comprehensibility of those opinions," said the Administrative Law Division of the Council of State. Read the full ruling here.

About the Amsterdam Museum 

The Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam's official city museum, was founded in 1926. The museum's main location, the monumental Civic Orphanage on Kalverstraat in the historic city centre, is currently being renovated so that the Amsterdam Museum can continue to fully perform its museum duties in the future. Until 2028, the Amsterdam Museum will find its temporary home at 51 Amstel. With a permanent collection presentation, temporary exhibitions, public programmes and children's activities. The city museum will also display its collection, create exhibitions and organise events at Huis Willet-Holthuysen and at various partners throughout the city. 

The Amsterdam Museum is structurally supported by Main Benefactors Municipality of Amsterdam, Friends Lottery and Main Partner Education ELJA Foundation.