BOIJMANS VAN BEUNINGEN MUSEUM

This huge, superb museum houses a considerable number of masterpieces, from ancient painters to the most modern designers, and is undoubtedly one of the most important in the Netherlands. In autumn 2010, it was awarded the prize for best museum in the country.

Completed in 1935, it takes its name from the two main donors who, along with others, have contributed to its exceptional wealth: F.-J.-O. Boijmans, a famous ^19th-century jurist with a passion for paintings, drawings and porcelain, and, more recently, D.-G. Van Beuningen, a businessman and industrialist who devoted all his money to acquiring master paintings. The building, with its modern appearance, is most remarkable for the lighthouse-shaped turret (the lighthouse of culture) that dominates it.

Three series of works have completed the building. In 1972, an additional wing was built to house modern works of art. In 1990, the Van Beuningen de Vriese pavilion was added on the garden side for temporary decorative arts exhibitions. The latest extension, in 2003, added around a quarter of additional exhibition space, including space for works by Surrealist artists.

Today, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen boasts some 750,000 paintings and art objects in four departments: ancient painting, modern painting, decorative arts and design, and drawings and prints. You'll find yourself in the midst of an eclectic and lively production that spans several universes and eras. Dutch, Flemish, Italian and French painting are given pride of place, while temporary exhibitions allow visitors to discover contemporary artists from all horizons. The museum is a real playful discovery; even the checkroom alone is worth the detour (we preserve the suspense). The museum has a ticket-free cafeteria, as well as a full-service restaurant with a superb view of the museum's peaceful gardens.

At the time of writing, the museum is closed for large-scale renovation and modernization. Work began in 2019 and is scheduled for completion in 2029, at a cost of 223 million euros. Part of its collection can be seen at the Depot, which also allows visitors to observe the restoration and conservation process. The new facility was designed by the MVRDV architectural firm.