rijksmuseum to open sculpture garden in amsterdam with pavilions by foster + partners

From Bourgeois to Calder: modern sculpture at the Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is set to expand its public presence beyond its historic walls with the creation of a sculpture garden of international scope, scheduled to open in autumn 2026 in Amsterdam. Enabled by a €60 million donation from the Don Quixote Foundation, the project will introduce a freely accessible green cultural landscape in Amsterdam, bringing together modern and contemporary sculpture, landscape design, and architectural adaptation. The new outdoor complex, officially titled the Don Quixote Pavilion and Garden at the Rijksmuseum, will present works by artists including Alberto Giacometti, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Jean Arp, Roni Horn, and Henry Moore, alongside a rotating program of temporary exhibitions.

Located just steps from the Rijksmuseum at the intersection of Boerenwetering, Ruysdaelkade, and Stadhouderskade, the garden will merge three existing pavilions and their surrounding plots with the Carel Willinkplantsoen into a single continuous site. Until now, the pavilions, built in the Amsterdam School style, have remained closed to the public. Their transformation into sculpture exhibition spaces will be led by Foster + Partners, while the landscape itself will be shaped by Belgian architect Piet Blanckaert. 

artist impression of the planned Rijksmuseum sculpture garden | image courtesy of Foster + Partners

a new public art landscape for amsterdam

The initiative marks a significant expansion of the Rijksmuseum’s engagement with 20th-century sculpture, both spatially and institutionally. According to museum director Taco Dibbits, ‘This is a donation of historic significance, and a historic moment for the Rijksmuseum. It will give modern sculpture the visibility it deserves. It also marks an unprecedented enhancement of the Rijksmuseum’s collection of 20th-century art.’ The Don Quixote Foundation will not only fund the development of the garden but will also place a substantial group of sculptures on long-term loan with the museum, reinforcing the curatorial depth of the project.

Beyond its artistic ambitions, the garden is also conceived as an ecological intervention within the city. Plans include the planting of twenty-two mature trees and the introduction of a wider range of native flowers and plant species, intended to support urban biodiversity. The space will be accessible free of charge during the day, with its main entrance opening onto Stadhouderskade. The final schedule for public access will be determined in consultation with local residents and municipal authorities. ‘This is a wonderful gift for everyone in Amsterdam. Local residents, city dwellers and art lovers will soon be enjoying the tranquil natural surroundings and artistic beauty,’ states Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema.

the Don Quixote Pavilion and Garden at the Rijksmuseum | image courtesy of Foster + Partners

Rijksmuseum Gardens |  image courtesy of the Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum Gardens |  image courtesy of the Rijksmuseum

Louise Bourgeois, Maman | image courtesy of Khao Yai Art Forest

Calder Gardens, 2025. Photo by Iwan Baan. Artwork by Alexander Calder © 2025 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

project info:

name: Don Quixote Pavilion and Garden at the Rijksmuseum

location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

institution: Rijksmuseum | @rijksmuseum

main donor: Don Quixote Foundation

total donation: €60 million

architect: Foster + Partners | @fosterandpartners

landscape design: Piet Blanckaert | @pietblanckaert

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