The Rijksmuseum has received a donation of 60 million euros from the Don Quixote Foundation for, among other things, the construction of a new sculpture garden. Director Taco Dibbits mentions the gift in an interview with It Financial Daily “the largest monetary donation the Rijksmuseum has ever received.”
The donation comes from the Don Quixote Foundation of the noble Van Rappard family, the museum announced on Tuesday in a press release. About 10 million euros will be used for the sculpture garden, which will be accessible free of charge. The rest of the money is for the establishment of a foundation for the Rijksmuseum, which focuses, among other things, on the exploitation of the garden.
Billionaire Rolly van Rappard (65) also makes images from his own collection available. He earned most of his money as one of the founders of the Amsterdam-listed private equity company CVC Capital Partners, one of the largest investment companies in the world. In recent years he has donated tens of millions to the Rijksmuseum.
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema speaks of a “great gift for all people in Amsterdam”. The world-famous architect Norman Foster (90) was asked to design the garden. Foster is known for, among other things, the dome of the Reichstag in Berlin. The sculpture garden will open later this year.
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