The Rijksmuseum is joining forces with the municipality of Eindhoven and semiconductor giant company ASML to establish a new branch of the world-renowned museum in the southern Dutch city.
The move aims to broaden access to the national collection while strengthening Eindhoven’s cultural profile. The future Rijksmuseum in Eindhoven will present works from the Amsterdam museum’s vast holdings and is envisioned as a major cultural anchor for the fast-growing Brainport region.
Designed as a dynamic space for creativity and craftsmanship, the museum will reflect Eindhoven’s identity as a city of makers, designers, and technological innovators.
Exhibitions will reinterpret the Rijksmuseum collection from fresh perspectives, with a particular emphasis on artistic process, innovation, and material culture. The building itself will be set in a green urban park along the banks of the Dommel River, just minutes from Eindhoven Central Station, making it easily accessible to both local residents and international visitors.
ASML, the founding partner of the project, plans to make a substantial long-term financial contribution to help create what stakeholders describe as a leading cultural institution for the region. The high-tech company sees the project as a way to enhance quality of life and reinforce Eindhoven’s appeal as a place to live and work, while also supporting the arts at a national level.
“The Rijksmuseum belongs to everyone and is open to all,” said Rijksmuseum General Director Taco Dibbits, noting that the institution is constantly seeking new ways to share its collection across the Netherlands. He highlighted the museum’s historic ties to Eindhoven, recalling that Philips served as a Rijksmuseum founder for 25 years. He welcomed ASML as a new partner in extending the museum’s reach to the south of the country.
Providing a cultural image to Brabant province and Eindhoven
Eindhoven Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem described the initiative as a rare opportunity to enrich Brabant’s cultural landscape, calling the future museum a unifying place where art and history can connect people in a rapidly expanding region. ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet echoed that sentiment, saying the project would allow more people to experience the Rijksmuseum’s treasures while strengthening Brainport Eindhoven as a cultural destination.
The planned museum will cover more than 3,500 square meters, with detailed designs to be developed over the next year. The partners aim to open the Rijksmuseum in Eindhoven within six to eight years.
Once completed, it will showcase highlights from a collection spanning 800 years of Dutch art and history, including paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, photography, fashion, and Asian art, increasing the visibility of one of the world’s most celebrated museum collections.
The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands. We tell the story of 800 years of Dutch history, from 1200 to now. The museum is a big draw for Amsterdam and attracted nearly 2.5 million visitors last year.
