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SUSTAINABILITY

The Rijksmuseum aims to become into one of the most sustainable museums in the world. And we’re not just talking about it – we’re taking action.

How we’re making the museum more sustainable

  • Waste at the museum is sorted, collected and disposed of
  • We have an environmentally conscious and sustainable purchasing policy
  • We encourage our staff and visitors to travel by bicycle or public transport
  • Staff members can read and share news and tips about sustainability on our intranet
  • Visitors and other external parties can send in tips to info@rijksmuseum.nl
  • Our extensive environmental policy plan includes various objectives for each sustainability category

WE’RE PLEASED TO SAY…

The Rijksmuseum was the first museum in the world to receive a BREAAM-NL In-Use sustainability certificate with a rating of ‘Outstanding’ (5 stars) – the highest possible score.

BREAAM is an international instrument for measuring and rating the sustainability of buildings. The Rijksmuseum scores particularly high on water, energy and waste management. We use a thermal energy storage system in combination with a heat pump, so excess heat is stored to heat the building and the surrounding offices in the winter. We save electricity by switching off appliances at night. We are exploring options for generating our own electricity, and the feasibility of stopping the use of fossil fuels altogether in the future.

OUR GREEN OASIS

The gardens around the museum contribute to the quality of life in the city. Our planting helps to strengthen the ecosystem, and features such as bat boxes and insect hotels improve the environment for endangered species. For several years, a pair of peregrine falcons have been raising their young in a specially installed nesting box in the bell tower.

Children are learning about the relationship between nature, food and art through our educational programmes, a school gardening project, and the adventure cookbook The Secret of the Garden. We are also investing in the future through traineeships for gardeners.

THE GREEN MILE

The Rijksmuseum supports the Green Mile project in conjunction with organisations including the Dutch national bank DNB and Heineken. This initiative by the architecture design network UNStudio aims to transform the Stadhouderskade – the polluted and dangerous throughfare that runs past the front of the museum – into a pleasant, green and flourishing street. Because we know that a memorable and inspiring museum experience doesn’t start only when you go inside.

The connection between the Rijksmuseum gardens and a green Stadhouderskade will be attractive to residents and visitors, create more favourable conditions for nature, and contribute to the visitor experience in and around the Rijksmuseum.

NETHERLANDS COLLECTION CENTRE

A large part of our collection is stored in the brand new Netherlands Collection Centre (CC NL) in Amersfoort, developed in collaboration with the Dutch Open Air Museum, Paleis Het Loo and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. Sustainability was central to the design and construction of CC NL from the outset, and the result is one of the most sustainable buildings in the Netherlands. It has been certified with the highest possible rating of ‘Outstanding’ (5 stars) according to the BREEAM NL New Construction and Renovation assessment system. Early in 2022, the building won a BREEAM Award, an international prize for buildings at the forefront of sustainability. CC NL achieved such a high rating by maintaining the ideal climate for preserving artworks and historical objects with an absolute minimum of electrical systems. Energy for the building is generated by solar panels, and rainwater is collected and reused. The grounds around the building contribute to the development of the local flora and fauna – the many rabbits and foxes seen around the building are clear evidence of our success.