The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has announced plans to build a €60 million Modern sculpture garden, called the Don Quixote Pavilion and Garden, on a nearby triangular plot of land. The project is funded by an exceptional donation and long-term art loans from the Don Quixote Foundation, established by billionaire businessman Rolly van Rappard. The garden will feature three pavilions designed by Foster + Partners, with landscaping by Piet Blanckaert, and will display sculptures by Alberto Giacometti, Jean Arp, and Henry Moore. The museum aims to open the space free of charge this autumn, but planning permission has not yet been granted, and the project includes the restoration of three listed buildings.
The announcement matters because it represents a historic expansion of the Rijksmuseum's 20th-century art collection and a major private gift to a public institution. However, the premature announcement before securing planning approval highlights tensions between institutional ambition and local regulatory processes. The project has drawn mixed reactions from neighbors, with some concerned about tree removal and others expressing strong support. The outcome will set a precedent for how major cultural expansions navigate community and municipal approval in Amsterdam.