Employees of De Nederlandsche Bank will return to the headquarters building on Frederiksplein in Amsterdam on 6 January 2025. Nearly five years of renovation work have resulted in a building that is ready for the future, sustainable and open for all.
At the heart of society
The prominent structure on Amsterdam’s Frederiksplein was technically obsolete five years ago and fell short of today’s sustainability requirements. It was severely outdated in a functional sense, and without technically necessary measures, the continuity of the building and the safety of employees and visitors could not be guaranteed in the long run. Heightened security risks led to the decision to move the gold and cash to Zeist.
Respecting architect Marius Duintjer’s original design, architecture firm Mecanoo has fully renovated the DNB building and it is now once again part of the city. The building’s openness and transparency have been restored, enhancing its connection with its surroundings and the community. This office building enables DNB to face the challenges of today and tomorrow.
A place for connection and inspiration
With a total of 67,000 m2 of floor space, the building is once again the home office for more than 2,300 Amsterdam-based DNB employees. In addition, the building boasts a knowledge hub and experience centre for both the financial sector and the general public. The relocation of the cash operations and over 200 tonnes of gold to our new built Cash Centre in Zeist made it possible to open the building’s ground floor and basement levels to the public.
This public space (4,800 m2) in and around the former gold vault is called De Nieuwe Schatkamer, and it will be open to everyone as from March 2025. Everyone who is interested can learn about DNB’s core activities through exhibitions, interactive games, seminars and debates, and they can discover our art and money collections. DNB staff, students, school groups, local residents and all other interested parties will soon come together in De Nieuwe Schatkamer. This will help DNB to be even more aware of what is going on in society.
DNB President Klaas Knot on the importance of openness: ‘At DNB, we are at the very heart of society, so it is also important for us to be open and accessible. Openness helps us do our work effectively. We work for everyone in the Netherlands on stable prices, on solid and honest financial institutions, on a reliable and stable payment system. In fact, on sustainable prosperity for all. This building is going to help us tremendously in that respect.'
An iconic design restored to its former glory
Marius Duintjer's original 1968 design was groundbreaking at the time for its minimalist lines, understated use of materials and transparency. Through the years, the building was altered in ways that affected its original character, such as the addition of mezzanine floors, security measures and the round tower in 1991.
Architect Francine Houben of Mecanoo has restored the building’s original appearance. The ground floor is surrounded entirely by glass, the double-storey elevation of the old Cash Hall has been restored and the original façade composition with its characteristic brown tiles has been preserved. The round tower has been removed, restoring the unencumbered sightlines between the Utrechtsestraat and De Pijp.
Read the full Press Release, here.