The future site of the Rijksmuseum sculpture garden sits across the Boerenwetering canal from the museum in Amsterdam. Image: Foster + Partners

A new Rijksmuseum sculpture garden will bring modern sculpture to a public park near the museum.

BY KAZEEM ADELEKE

AMSTERDAM — The Rijksmuseum will open a new Rijksmuseum sculpture garden in Amsterdam in the fall of 2026, expanding public access to modern sculpture through a nearly $70 million private donation, the museum announced Tuesday. The project will convert a nearby park and historic pavilions into a free, open-air exhibition space featuring major 20th-century artists.

Major Private Donation Funds Expansion

The Don Quixote Foundation is providing nearly $70 million to fund the project. Dutch billionaire Rolly van Rappard, founder of venture capital firm CVC, finances the foundation.

Museum officials described the gift as one of the most significant private contributions in the Rijksmuseum’s history. The funding will support architectural renovation, landscape design, and long-term public access to the new space.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said the sculpture garden will benefit residents, visitors, and the broader cultural life of the city.

Rijksmuseum Sculpture Garden Location and Design

The sculpture garden will be located across the Boerenwetering canal from the museum at Carel Willinkplantsoen, near the intersection of Ruysdaelkade and Stadhouderskade.

Three historic pavilions on the site will be incorporated into the garden. Architects built the structures in the Amsterdam School style in the early 20th century. The buildings will open to the public for the first time.

London-based firm Foster + Partners will oversee the renovation. Belgian landscape architect Piet Blanckaert will design the surrounding gardens.

Modern Sculpture Takes Center Stage 

The museum plans to display works by leading modern artists, including Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Jean Arp, Henry Moore, and Roni Horn.

The pavilions will host rotating sculpture exhibitions. Museum leadership explained that the project strengthens the institution’s presentation of modern and contemporary art.

Rijksmuseum General Director Taco Dibbits said the new garden will give modern sculpture greater visibility while expanding the museum’s 20th-century collection. 

Free Public Access

The Rijksmuseum sculpture garden will be free to enter during daytime hours. The museum stated that the model conforms to the existing Rijksmuseum Gardens, which also operate with free public access.

Officials emphasized that the space is designed as both a cultural destination and a public green area within the city.