Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam Earns Five-Star Rating for Sustainable Building Management
The renowned Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has achieved a significant environmental milestone, securing a five-star 'outstanding' rating with its BREEAM-NL In-Use sustainability certificate. This accomplishment makes it the first museum globally to receive the highest possible score for the sustainable management of an existing building. This recognition highlights the institution's commitment to environmental responsibility across its operations.
Rijksmuseum's Ongoing Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
This latest recognition builds on previous efforts, as the Rijksmuseum was also the first museum worldwide to receive a four-star 'excellent' ranking for sustainable management in 2017. The museum's director, Taco Dibbits, emphasized the ongoing dedication to sustainability, stating that this achievement is a stepping stone for future contributions towards a sustainable world. The museum has notably improved its scores in both the Assets and Use sections of the BREEAM assessment since its last evaluation.
Driving Sustainability Through Operations and Education
The Rijksmuseum achieved its top rating in the Management category through exceptional performance in water, energy, and waste management. Future efforts will continue to focus on reducing energy consumption, increasing water recycling (especially rainwater), minimizing waste, and raising staff awareness about sustainability.
Resource Efficiency and Waste Reduction
In recent years, the museum has significantly decreased its energy use, including a more than 16 percent reduction in gas consumption in 2019 compared to the previous year. The institution aims to operate completely gas-free by 2030 and plans to reduce its annual energy consumption by at least 2 percent in the coming years. Water consumption per visitor has also seen a 13 percent decrease since 2019. Furthermore, the museum utilizes thermal energy storage, connecting it to neighboring buildings to provide warmth using excess heat from the main museum structure.
Embracing Circularity in Exhibitions
The Rijksmuseum prioritizes the purchase of sustainable materials for its operations, favoring items that can be reused by the museum or its suppliers. This commitment extends to exhibitions, which are increasingly designed with circularity in mind. For example, all materials from the "Caravaggio-Bernini. Baroque in Rome" exhibition, from display cases to fabric partitions, were given a second life.
Green Spaces and Educational Initiatives
The Rijksmuseum Gardens are integral to the museum's sustainability efforts. This urban green space is being enhanced with more indigenous plant varieties. Collaborating with an ecological consultancy, the museum is exploring ways to adapt the garden to support threatened animal species, already incorporating features like 'insect hotels,' bat boxes, and nest boxes for peregrine falcons.
Additionally, the museum has developed educational programs to foster nature awareness. Children participating in a special program at the Education Centre learn to create paints from plants grown in the Rijksmuseum Gardens. In partnership with the municipality of Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum also initiated the School Gardens Centenary project, enabling primary school children to cultivate vegetables, fruits, and flowers in the museum gardens with professional guidance.
The Significance of BREEAM-NL Certification
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is an internationally recognized certification method for sustainable building practices, used in over 80 countries. The Dutch adaptation, BREEAM-NL, provides quality marks for various building types. The Rijksmuseum was evaluated under the 'In-Use' category for existing buildings. Notably, the design for the recently completed Netherlands Collection Centre (CC NL) in Amersfoort, which houses parts of the national collection managed by the Rijksmuseum and partner institutions, also achieved an 'outstanding' rating in the BREEAM-NL Newbuild and Renovation category.
This achievement underscores the Rijksmuseum's dedication not only to preserving art and history but also to ensuring a sustainable future. To learn more about this iconic institution or to explore more Amsterdam museums, visit Musemap (musemap.art) for other cultural highlights in Amsterdam.
