Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen

A building that gives the city back to itself

The Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam's Museumpark is one of the most photographed buildings in the Netherlands, and for good reason. The bowl-shaped facade is entirely clad in mirrored stainless steel. What you see is never just the building itself. You see the trees of the Museumpark, the sky, the surrounding architecture, and if you position yourself right, yourself as well. That makes every shot different, depending on the moment and where you stand.

Light and season

The golden hour gives the best results. Early in the morning the Museumpark is quiet and the facade picks up warm tones that contrast sharply with the cool steel. In the evening, just before sunset, you see the western sky reflected in the upper half of the dome. In autumn the coloured trees of the park add an extra layer to the reflection. In winter, when the trees are bare, the structure of the building itself becomes more prominent.

Composition and focal length

Wide is your friend here. A focal length around 16 to 24mm lets you capture the full curve of the facade and gives you the distortion that adds real force to the building. If you want to make the reflection itself the focus, a longer focal length, 70mm or more, works better. You compress the background and the reflected city becomes more legible. Watch your own position: you can easily end up in the facade yourself. That can actually be a deliberate choice for a street photo with architecture as the backdrop.

Practical

The Museumpark is publicly accessible and you do not need a permit for photography for personal use or editorial purposes. Parking is available near the Museumpark or at the Mariniersweg. On busy Saturdays and during events in the park the surroundings get cluttered, so shooting on weekdays or early in the morning is worth it. The roof of the Depot is accessible to visitors and offers an unusual perspective over Rotterdam, but you will need an entrance ticket for that.

Sources and further reading

• Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen (officiële website)
• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
• Museumpark Rotterdam