Het Depot, Art storage facility in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Het Depot is an art storage facility in Rotterdam that displays around 154,000 artworks across fourteen separate storage sections. Each section maintains its own climate conditions to protect the diverse collection of pieces.
The facility opened in 2021 and marked a turning point in how museums allow the public to access artworks usually stored away. The project grew from the desire to bring art closer to visitors rather than keeping it hidden in private vaults.
You can watch museum staff doing conservation work and caring for the collection in real time. Seeing how restorers and conservators handle artworks daily offers insight into what happens behind the scenes of any museum.
You need to book ahead online before visiting, as access is by reservation only. It is open Thursday through Sunday in the afternoon, giving you several days to plan your visit.
The building is wrapped in around 1,664 mirrored panels that reflect the surroundings constantly. This shimmering exterior transforms throughout the day as light and weather change, making the facade itself an ever-shifting piece of art.
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