Eindhoven's Laboratory of Radical Curation

At a Glance

Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven opened April 1936 from tobacco merchant Henri van Abbe's donation. Abel Cahen's 1999–2003 extension tripled the footprint. 3,200 works.

Questioning the Museum Itself

Director Charles Esche (since 2004) made "what is a museum for?" the starting point. Projects like Museum of Arte Útil and The Way Beyond Art redefined curatorial practice; entire collection online in high res since 2017.

Must-See

• El Lissitzky's Proun Room — the only full 1:1 reconstruction.
• Russian avant-garde — Malevich, Tatlin, Rodchenko.
• German Expressionism — Kirchner, Nolde.
• Beuys, Nauman, Eliasson.
• Rotating Collection Now thematic rehangs.

Visiting Tips

15-min walk from Eindhoven Station; 1h20 train from Amsterdam. €13. 2 hours. Closed Mondays.