After several years of closure for renovation, Museum Arnhem in the Dutch city of Arnhem has reopened to the public. The project, led by Amsterdam-based Benthem Crouwel Architects, combines a careful restoration of the original 19th-century building—including its iconic historic dome—with a contemporary extension that responds to the surrounding landscape.
© Maarten Willemstein
A striking feature of the new design is a cantilevered wing that projects roughly 45 feet over a rocky slope, creating the impression of hovering above the treetops. “We were immediately captivated by the location,” said architect and partner Saartje van der Made. “The view is a huge plus, so we decided to go higher up with the new building to highlight this feature even more.”
Along with the dramatic floating wing and a wide public staircase that links the extension to the refurbished sculpture garden, the museum’s façade has been entirely re-clad in 82,000 unique, handcrafted tiles. The palette ranges from earth tones that echo nearby streets to icy blue on the river-facing side, a deliberate reference to the museum’s siting on moraine—an accumulation of rocks and sand left by a glacier ages ago.
© Maarten Willemstein
Work on the transformation began in 2017 and has delivered nearly 21,000 square feet of modern exhibition space. The extension includes five new galleries and two interconnected public areas. The restored 1873 dome has been reinstated as the museum’s central hub: it houses the main entrance, the shop and the café. An elevator and a new circular staircase provide access to the dome’s upper level, which contains an accessible activity space for public programs.
Museum Arnhem’s collection comprises more than 25,000 objects, spanning 20th-century art, contemporary art and jewelry. The new architecture supports both the permanent collection and rotating exhibitions. A broad staircase links the overhanging wing to the sculpture garden and allows passersby to glimpse displays and activity without purchasing a ticket. The garden and the concrete steps that lead to a projecting balcony offer expansive views over the park, the Rhine River and the surrounding landscape; these outdoor areas are freely accessible to the public.
Positioned centrally within Arnhem and surrounded by greenery, the museum now provides panoramic river views alongside flexible, high-quality exhibition spaces. Museum Arnhem positions itself as the city’s museum for international modern and contemporary art and design. The permanent holdings emphasize realistic 20th-century works alongside contemporary art, jewelry and applied design, with a notable focus within the contemporary collection on work by female artists.
© Eva Broekema
Current and upcoming exhibitions include Unsheltered Moments (through March 10), Art in the Third Reich (through March 24), Tolerance Test (through April 24) and Traces of Arnhem (through September 29). Tickets are approximately $16, and reservations can be made online.