Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

The main museum building, opened in 1935, was designed by Alexander Van der Steur, who considered it his most important work. Van der Steur's philosophy was that a museum should serve as a backdrop for art, prioritizing the display and appreciation of the collection rather than overshadowing it. He designed the building with unobtrusive stairwells and subtle level changes to minimize visitor fatigue, stating that museums can become 'torture' with poor lighting and heavy colors. The architecture features interconnected courtyards, towers, and a harmonious interplay of materials, including contrasting sandstone and brick to create a timeless aesthetic. The design also incorporated extensive light studies to ensure optimal illumination, an approach that influenced later projects like the 1952 renovation of the Rijksmuseum.

The museum's collection is exceptionally diverse, ranging from medieval art to contemporary works. A significant portion of the holdings consists of works on paper, including etchings, drawings, and lithographs from the Middle Ages to the present. The museum also holds a rich assembly of design objects from 1500 to the present day, illustrating specific themes in design history. Notable examples include Oriental porcelain from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a 17th-century tulip chest, and modern furniture like an Eames chair. The collection also features objects by Hella Jongerius and ceramics from the Middle Ages. The museum is also home to the Koenigs Collection, a major holding of drawings and prints.

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is a significant cultural institution in the Netherlands, known for its innovative approach to museum architecture and its vast, diverse collection. The museum closed in mid-2019 to undergo major renovations and to open the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, a publicly accessible art storage facility. In 2024, the museum continued its operations with new exhibitions, including a notable exhibition of Mark Rothko's work in April 2025. The institution has also been the subject of public discourse regarding the provenance of the Koenigs Collection, with the museum clarifying its cooperation with investigations. Under the direction of Ina Klassen since 2022, the museum continues to engage the public through education programs, digital initiatives like ARTtube (which ceased in 2018), and television series on art.