The Boijmans van Beuningen Depot in Rotterdam offers you a unique experience: watch how many works of art are stored and preserved in a building that sparks your imagination.
In 2018, I went to the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen just before it closed its doors for a major renovation that would last for years. So when the Boijmans van Beuningen Depot opened its doors to the public, it only seemed right to go there during its first week in November 2021.
About the Depot
From the website: “Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is the world’s first publicly accessible art storage facility. The depot is located next to Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Museumpark in Rotterdam. Visitors can see the result of 172 years of collecting. More than 151,000 objects housed together, arranged in fourteen storage compartments with five different climates. Next to the objects, all the activities that go into preserving and managing a collection are on open view in the building.”
Most colorful spaceship ever seen
These days, any museum experience is a bit stripped down because of the measures against the coronavirus. I couldn’t take a tour (I went to a special evening premiere) and the rooftop restaurant was closed. Still: what an impressive building it is when you first see it in all its glory. I watched it being built from the ground up every time I was near the Museumpark in Rotterdam. I dubbed it ‘Spaceship’ from the start.
When you get near the building, the first thing you see is the colorful light show (only at night) that makes good use of the street and the reflective exterior of the building. What a welcoming sight. Naturally, you take a seat on one of the makeshift seats outside to be enchanted. The feeling you have now is similar to the feeling you will have when you reach a certain sight on one of the upper floors.
May I make another comparison?
I probably scared off some readers with my spaceship comparison, but still I’d like to make another one. The interior of the building with its staircases, see-through floors and elevators – basically a facility where the non-moving parts suggest movement – reminds you of the TV show Squid Game. There, I’ve said it. After all, it was November 2021…
What I loved about the building is that everywhere you look there is something to discover, whether it’s a painting, an object or an alcove that shows how items are preserved. You are a guest in the facility that is the driving force behind your favorite exhibitions.
The objects are kept according to their temperature requirements and dimensions. You can see only a few of them, but the many storage rows show what riches are hidden from the eye of the general public. When you visit the Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot, you can book a guided tour that will take you into one of the storage rooms. Your experience will not be complete without that tour. I’ll have to go back someday to take one.
Galaxy gallery
The most interesting part of the depot is at the very center of the building where some objects can be seen from the stairs. I expected to be able to see more artwork there, as the designs show. Hopefully one day that part of the building will become more like a gallery. I want to be dazzled by art.
Last but not least, from the roof you can see the skyline of Rotterdam. So be sure to go all the way to the roof as well. This is most fun in the dark when the buildings are illuminated.
How to get to Depot Boijmans van Beuningen
The museum is located in the city center of Rotterdam. At the time of writing, many roads around the museum are blocked, making it more difficult to get there by car (I couldn’t reach the Museumpark parking garage). Still, you can park in one of the many (other) parking garages in Rotterdam and reach the museum on foot.
If you go to the museum by public transport, first go to Rotterdam Central Station. From the train station you can take tram line 7 to the Museumpark stop or metro line A, B or C to the Eendrachtsplein stop.
The Depot is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. Please check for temporary closings before your visit.
Location: Museumpark 24, 3015CX Rotterdam, Netherlands
