The Design Museum in Den Bosch will remain where it is. For a long time there was talk that the museum would move to the Citadel Gate. But after research by the museum, municipality, province and the Noordbrabants Museum, which is located in the same building, it was decided to put an end to the moving plans. There was already discussion about the high costs for a new building.
“It is extremely bitter that it will not go ahead,” says director Timo de Rijk Dtv News. “But on the other hand: if there is no majority in favor, it won’t go ahead. I don’t think it’s a failure. It’s a shame for us and for the city, but that is something different than a failure. More things don’t go ahead than go ahead, but the ambition is still the same.”
An ambition that the Design Museum now wants to realize in the current building. In this new period, we are therefore considering how the current building can be improved. “We would be very helped by a new, permanent position on design,” says De Rijk. He also fantasizes about a room on the ground floor where exhibitions could take place.
Increasing costs
The plans for a new museum location were initially estimated at 43 million euros. That eventually rose to 56 million euros. The municipal council already thought that this multi-million investment was too expensive in November.
According to the municipality of Den Bosch, no ‘promising options’ have emerged from alternatives in the city center of Den Bosch. “In addition, new construction at a location other than the Citadel Gate requires a major investment that we do not consider realistic at the moment.”
Lots of discussion about moving
In recent years, emotions have run high about the 56 million euros that the new building at the Citadelhof would cost. The whole of Den Bosch seemed to be concerned with the Design Museum.
“That was about the new construction. There were people against it and there were people for it,” says De Rijk. “The people who were against sometimes seemed to be targeting the museum. That turns out not to be the case at all. People were against the costs, but that has now been scrapped.” De Rijk is convinced that by improving this building, visitors will get a better museum.
Peeking at the neighbors
Due to the planned move of the Design Museum, the adjacent Noordbrabants Museum could expand, but that is now cancelled. However, De Rijk also sees advantages for both museums because the Design Museum remains.
“You can still see that you can benefit from each other. All kinds of people walk across our free ground floor, where there are exhibition components. They sometimes come for the Noordbrabants Museum, but they still come here to have a browse.” According to De Rijk, this also applies vice versa and he hopes to be able to continue to build on this.
Once it is clear whether adjustments are needed to the current Design Museum, the municipality will look into the possibility of expansion. The plans of the Noordbrabants Museum are also included. “This includes a good cost analysis.” The province and municipality are involved in this. They are now looking at what is spatially possible within the Museum Quarter. “We first look at making better use of existing spaces.”
