News — May 21, 2012

More than 4,570 people passed through the museum’s new entrance on the Museumplein to admire the new wing designed by Benthem Crouwel Architekten and the renovated historic building.

Guests included people from the community, local entrepreneurs, and people from the world of politics, culture, and tourism. A special event for readers of the Amsterdam daily, Het Parool, was eagerly attended by more than 900 Amsterdammers.

Visitors marvelled at the new and magnificently proportioned entrance and the recently installed, 200-square-meter wall hanging designed by Inside Outside. The 1100-square-meter underground exhibition space inspired similar admiration, as did the escalator that directly connects the space with the first floor. But what impressed the guests most of all was the subtle transition from the new wing to the “original Stedelijk,” which drew a host of appreciative comments.

Ann Goldstein, director of the Stedelijk Museum, said, “Being able to welcome our visitors to the new building was an amazing and rewarding experience for all of us, and at such a unique moment, too, before installation of the artwork begins. It was an enormous thrill to see so many people back home again in the museum – their museum! And we had so much positive feedback; it’s given us extra energy to prepare for the grand reopening of the Stedelijk in September!”

Patrick van Mil, the Stedelijk’s business director, added, “I spoke with a great many people, and many of them commented that Benthem Crouwel has created a remarkable piece of architecture – an icon that is atypically Dutch but nonetheless familiar. Most of the guests instantly felt at home, and said, ‘this is the Stedelijk.’ Given the number of spontaneous applications for membership to the Friends of the Stedelijk, the museum can count on enormous support. It’s the start of a new era for us: the restaurant is almost completed, the shop is under construction, and we can start transporting the art works. This summer, we’ll install the museum galleries. People were saying they can’t wait to see art back in the building. We can’t wait, either!”