De Nederlandsche Bank
De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), located on a unique site close to Amsterdam’s canal belt, underwent a major renovation after fifty years. Designed by Marius Duintjer, the original building (1968) consisted of a low-rise, square-shaped building (110x120 metres) and a 73-metre-high office tower. In 1991, a round tower was added in the courtyard, and a third floor was placed atop the low-rise building. With the decision to relocate the gold reserves and banknote operations to the Cash Centre in Zeist, the opportunity arose to transform the building and open it up to the greater public in a more engaging way. The round tower was no longer needed and could be dismantled in a modular manner.
DNB’s new entrance on Frederiksplein (Frederik’s Square) cuts straight through the former gold vault. The floors surrounding the vault were removed, exposing it to the city. Here, visitors can experience exhibitions and interactive games about gold, money, the economy, and DNB’s core activities. The most secretive part of the bank is now its most public: The New Treasury. At either end are two auditoriums—one formal for lectures, the other informal for school groups. Between the vault and the new city garden, where the round tower once stood, lies the so-called ‘street’ with tables and seating areas. The reception desk doubles as a check-in point and a welcoming coffee bar.
In the semi-public zone, a new five-storey atrium with staircases promotes walking and social interaction, offers views of the city garden, and leads to the restaurant overlooking the Singelgracht. The quay has become a public gathering spot with a wooden deck just above the water. The double-height cash hall has been transformed into a meeting centre with breakout zones and a monumental 120-metre-long reading room, which can be used as a workspace as well as for conferences and dinners.
At its centre is Duintjer’s original spiral staircase, now complemented by a new one connecting the second and third floors. The WELL Platinum-certified working environment supports focus, collaboration and connection, with abundant greenery, daylight and views. Mecanoo enriched Duintjer’s palette of concrete, glass and steel with warm bio-based and circular materials. Walls are finished with coloured PET felt and FSC-certified timber. Fluorescent lighting were replaced with energy-efficient functional, atmospheric and theatrical lighting and all technical installations were relocated to the basement, allowing panoramic rooms on the tower’s top floor for special events.
The renovation of DNB has achieved BREEAM Outstanding certification and stands as a model of circular design. The round tower was modularly dismantled for reuse, and demolition waste repurposed. Wood from old and diseased poplars from the city has been incorporated into the slatted ceilings. Energy consumption and CO₂ emissions have been reduced by over 80%. The tower façades are insulated with a ventilated double-glazed façade (kastenfenster) featuring integrated sun shading, while the new ventilation system recovers heat. Solar panels and geothermal energy supply sustainable power, enabling the building to contribute to a climate-neutral city.
The transformation of Frederiksplein into Frederikspark (Frederik’s Park) places the Bank amidst greenery. The former car park with the round tower has made way for a publicly accessible city garden. The logistics centre features a rooftop garden for staff with herbs and vegetables. The rooftops incorporate green terraces, and on the wooden deck, everyone can sit close to the cooling waters of the ‘Singelgracht’. Together, these interventions enhance biodiversity and help reduce urban heat stress.
