Rotterdam city council approves €359 mil. renovation of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

A large majority of the Rotterdam city council approved an ambitious renovation of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. The job will cost 359 million euros, of which the municipality will pay 270 million. The philanthropic foundation Droom en Daad will contribute the other 80 million euros, AD reports.

The historic building in the Museumpark was almost falling apart when it abruptly closed its doors in May 2019. It had a long list of overdue maintenance, contained asbestos, and was a major fire risk.

The city faced a choice between two options: a necessary-only renovation that would cost 262 million euros or a more ambitious renovation that would cost 359 million euros. Droom en Daad, the foundation of wealthy philanthropist Martin van der Vorm, offered to contribute 80 million euros to the job, but only if the city opts for the ambitious renovation. With the donation, the ambitious renovation, which includes a new entrance for the museum, would cost the municipality 17 million euros more than the basic one.

The office of mayor and alderman opted for the more expensive option and received broad support from the city council. 38 councilors voted in favor of the proposal on Thursday. Only five were against.

Critics were unhappy with billionaire Van der Vorm’s involvement in the decision, especially because his donation was conditional on Rotterdam picking the more expensive option. “Because a party wants to donate 80 million, we have to go along with it,” said PvdD councilor Ruud van der Velden. CDA councilor René Segers-Hoogendoorn added: “We are letting ourselves be sidelined as a municipal council.”

But the proponents won the day. “We are finally taking a big step towards reopening,” said VVD councilor Diederik van Dommelen. “It is still an incredible amount of money. Yet we have to do this. We have the responsibility to maintain our cultural heritage and pass it on to our children and grandchildren in good condition.”

The decision puts an end to a protracted process and means that renovations can start in earnest. If all goes according to plan, the museum should reopen in 2030.