History of the art collection

De Nederlandsche Bank was founded by King William I in 1814. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, directors began to occasionally buy works of art, mainly for their own offices. These included several gems, such as two paintings by George Hendrik Breitner, as well as still lifes by Coba Ritsema and Johanna Bauer-Stumpff, members of the Amsterdam Joffers.

The Advisory Committee for the Acquisition of Art was established in 1969. Its task was to purchase art for every room in De Nederlandsche Bank’s offices, from boardrooms to meeting rooms, and from workspaces to reception areas. In 1982, this committee was succeeded by the Art Committee, which believes that art should have a broader purpose. Employees get to choose works for their own workspaces to create an inspiring working environment.

In the 1990s, many new works were acquired and the acquisition policy was tightened. The focus shifted to purchasing works by young artists and following them in their careers, and consistency and depth became key priorities. Art is now seen as a means of starting conversations about social issues. 

During this time, steps were also taken to make the art collection visible to the public. Starting in 1990, the Art Committee organised an exhibition every six weeks, which could be visited by appointment. De Nederlandsche Bank gives many emerging artists and curators the opportunity to present their work to a wider audience. Unfortunately, there have been no exhibitions in recent years due to the renovation of our headquarters, but the revamped building will have plenty of space to showcase our art. Would you like to see works from our collection? Come and visit us!