Holland Boulevard & Rijksmuseum Schiphol

Display of Dutch Culture

Walking through the Dutch polder landscape at Schiphol Airport to make your stay at the airport enjoyable, that is possible on the Holland Boulevard. The Rijksmuseum Schiphol is the highlight of the Holland Boulevard: a cultural zone where passengers can get acquainted with Dutch culture and history.
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Bart Reuser, Marijn Schenk, Michel Schreinemachers with Tara Steenvoorden, Mark Jongerius, Klaas van Olphen, Sylvia Hendriks, Mark Spijkerman, Magdalena Nalepa, Lisette Janssen

Studio Samira Boon i.c.w. Matthieu Verhoeven, INTOS, interior solutions, Lichtvormgevers, Royal Haskoning DHV, Heijmans, BCN (Benthem Crouwel NACO), Studio Florentijn Hofman, Deerns Haskoning adviseurs

Ossip van Duivenbode and Thijs Wolzak

Exploring the Dutch identity

Schiphol Airport is one of the largest and busiest airports in Europe with approximately 60 million travellers per year. To make their time at the airport and their transfer more pleasant, the Holland Boulevard offers a perspective on the Dutch identity as a landscape of culture and innovation. The Dutch polder landscape served as inspiration for the Holland Boulevard, which consists of various ‘Dutch sitting rooms’. The sitting rooms are separated from each other by low walls and together form the horizon of the extensive area of 5000 m2. The highlight of the Holland Boulevard is the Rijksmuseum. The pavilion forms a modern and innovative framework for the masterpieces displayed by the Rijksmuseum at Schiphol.

Connecting arts, culture, and travel

The varied atmosphere and ambiance of these sitting rooms make staying on Holland Boulevard a true voyage of discovery. Each room has a different character and its own ambiance within the Dutch landscape. The unique experience for travellers consists of the NEMO Science Center, a library, and glass pavilion of the Rijksmuseum. The works of art from the Dutch golden age can be experienced in peace, in one of the most hectic and modern places in the Netherlands. The glass walls of the pavilion are transparent, and at the same time massive. A safe home for the museum’s masterpieces that can be admired 24/7.

Creating a 24 hour experience

One of the special things about this museum is that it never closes. This concept of accessibility is also reflected in the pavilion’s unique structure and materials. The museum is built in an innovative way, using 10 cm-wide strips of glass that are stuck together to form a solid glass wall. The resulting semi-transparent walls filter the light, creating a gradual transition from the hustle and bustle of Schiphol to the peaceful exhibition space. The museum comprises two intersecting U-shapes, giving rise to two spaces and a natural route. The museum shop adds a third U-shape to the ensemble. The shop is completely transparent and a valuable addition to the museum. It also features the work of various Dutch designers. For example, Florentijn Hofman created two huggable works of art for the boulevard, and Samira Boon weaved an abstract landscape that is 16 metres in length. The Holland Boulevard is a calling card for the kinds of things that the Dutch can be proud of.

The Holland Boulevard and the Rijksmuseum Schiphol are located behind the passport control gates between Lounge 2 and Lounge 3.

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