Entrance doors of the Allard Pierson are open again

On June 13th Amsterdam daily news Het Parool publised an article about the Allard Pierson institute. The monumental building has recently reached the completion of its partial renovation and extension, designed by atelier PRO. The renovated accommodation is part of the historic buildings on the Amsterdam Oude Turfmarkt, which also houses the Special Collections Library of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), also a redesign by atelier PRO from 2007. The Special Collections Library and the Allard Pierson Museum have recently been united in the new Allard Pierson, an integrated institute that shares knowledge with the public and science.

The Allard Pierson collection

With internationally renowned collections in the fields of archaeology, cartography, book history, Jewish culture, church history, zoology and graphic design, the Allard Pierson has one of the most important heritage collections in Europe.

Preserve historical character and new function

"With the renovation and new construction, we are explicitly underlining the quality of our monumental location," says Wim Hupperetz, director of the Allard Pierson and extraordinary professor of Dutch cultural history at the Vrije Universiteit. According to him, the architects have succeeded in making one entity  of the distinct historic characters of the former bank building, the former mental nursery building the and the Gasthuishofpoortje." (...)

"The daily opening of doors is also symbolic of the opening up of our collections, once created for scientific research. The Allard Pierson is ready to serve as a bridge between the city and the university district in the making on the Binnengasthuister grounds. And within budget and on time, a remarkable achievement in Amsterdam".


Read the full Parool article here (in Dutch only)