CollectieCentrum Nederland

Memory of the Netherlands

These four institutions’ combined holdings of around half a million objects constitute a physical memory of the Netherlands. Unique in the world, this alliance will for the first time ever enable scholars to study objects from the Royal Collection side by side with ordinary household objects – and everything in between. As well as saving costs, this collaboration allows for unmatched facilities to benefit the cultural sector as a whole.

An unusual building

The building consists as it were of a head, neck and torso. Two conservation studios form the heart of the collection centre. Radiating outward are various spaces, including a photography studio, research spaces and a packing area. It’s as though the building itself is articulating: ‘This is what it’s all about’ – ‘This is where we’re keeping and taking care of the collection, ready to lend, display and provide access to important works’. The reception area for visitors is located in the ‘head’ of the building, as are the offices, while the ‘torso’ is reserved for a four-story storage facility almost 25 metres high. The CCNL is easy to reach, and all are welcome to come take a look!

Research

CC NL encourages research on the collections and promotes their mobility. Collegiate museums are welcome to contact us for loans. The Collection Centre is also accessible by appointment for Research & Education. Access can be requested from the relevant institutions.

5 stars for sustainability

CCNL is certified under the BREEAM NL system (rating: Outstanding – 5 stars). BREEAM is a sustainability assessment method used worldwide for the evaluation of new and existing buildings, locations and demolition projects. To the extent possible, CCNL will furnish its own climate. Most notably, by insulating exterior walls but not floors and using geothermal heating and cooling to keep the building at the constant temperature of 12-15 degrees Celsius that is best for collections storage. With 3,700 m2 of solar panelling on the roof, it will also generate its own energy. Rainwater will be drained separately and used for the toilets. Last but not least, the surrounding landscape has been designed to support local flora and fauna.

Facts and figures

## Designers and advisory parties

• Cepezed (Delft), architectural design
• Valstar Simonis (Rijswijk), installation design
• Adviesbureau ABT (Delft), construction design
• Peutz (Eindhoven), building physics and sustainability
• Ruijzenaars Landscapes (Amersfoort), landscape design
• Cepezedinterieur (Delft), interior design
• Irma Boom Office (Amsterdam), signage design
• ToornendPartners (Haarlem), project management and operational management

Implementation

• Visser & Smit Bouw on behalf of G&S Bouw (Rotterdam), building contractor

• Kropman Installatietechniek BV (Nijmegen), mechanical installation

• Bectro on behalf of ULC Installatiegroep (Amersfoort), electrical installation

• Bectro (Amersfoort), security system

• Aalbers | Wico defence & security (Renswoude), construction of security features

• Bruynzeel Storage Systems (Panningen), depot furnishing

• Van Ginkel Veenendaal BV (Veenendaal), garden landscaping

• number of stored objects: half a million (approx.)

• building dimensions: 166 x 80 x 24 m (L x W x H)

• total floor area: 31,500 m2

• depot section floor area: 19,000 m2

• office section floor area: 935 m2

• total site area: 27,000 m2

• total outdoor area: 9,500 m2

• quarantine facility area: 293.5 m2

• quarantine facilities: 1 cold store, 1 pesticide treatment chamber, 2 low-oxygen chambers,

• other facilities: 2 conservation studios (1,000 m2 in total), 1 X-ray room, 1 photographic studio (260 m2), 1 project space, 1 carpentry workshop, 1 packing room, 3 truck loading bays, 25 car parking spaces, 47 bicycle parking spaces.

• floors: 4

• staff: 30 (approx.)

• depot areas: 39

• shelving: 19,110 m

• mobile bases: 960 m2

• mesh partitions: 24,250 m2 (fixed and mobile)

• roll storage system: 1,287 rollers

• drawers: 3,655

• panel storage system: 117 panels

• hanging lockers: 191

• solar panels: 2,180 (3,600 m2)

• construction start date: May 2018

• inaugural use: summer 2020

• duration of relocation of collections: 1 year (summer 2020 to summer 2021)

• removal truck journeys: 869

• official opening: 13 September 2021

• construction costs: 44 million euros

• heaviest object: Tarzan steam engine (7,200 kilo, Netherlands Open Air Museum collection)

• largest object: De Blauwe Mortier barrel organ (5.40 m tall, 7.60 m wide, Netherlands Open Air Museum collection)

• BREEAM-NL sustainability certification: Outstanding (5 stars)

• light installation artwork: Herman Kuijer

Awards and nominations

We are extremely proud of winning a BREEAM Award March 2022. The building was praised by the jury because sustainability was one of the most important points of attention already from the start of the project. The jury called CC NL an example of sustainable collection management based on the latest scientific developments.

Archdaily, one of the world's leading architecture websites, nominated CC NL as the best building in the category 'best industrial architecture'.

Imagery

We have a lot of footage of the new CC NL. Both design drawings and the progress of the construction.