Reopening of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum delayed again
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The renovation of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, home to some of the greatest works by Rembrandt and other Dutch masters, has been delayed again and is not likely to be completed before 2013, the government said on Tuesday.
The restoration of one of the Netherlands' major tourist attractions had been due to be completed this year, but a dispute with the building contractor over costs has led to new delays, the Dutch culture ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said it had decided to put the contract up for bidding again after the construction company that originally won the deal said the project would cost 222 million euros ($329 million), compared to a budget of 134 million.
"The new tender will lead to delays to the project. That is to the great disappointment of all affected parties. Assuming there are no further problems, the Rijksmuseum should be able to open again at the end of 2012 or the start of 2013," it said.
In a facelift resembling modernizations at Paris' Louvre and Gare d'Orsay museums, the 19th century Rijksmuseum, designed by architect Pierre Cuypers with a richly-decorated exterior, is due to get a giant new underground entrance hall.
Since the main museum closed in 2003, works by Rembrandt like The Nightwatch and by other Dutch masters such as Frans Hals and Vermeer have remained on view in a side wing.
The museum said more than a million people visited the wing in 2006, as many as when the main building was still open.
(Reporting by Emma Thomasson; editing by Andrew Roche)
