The Koninklijk Concertgebouw of the Netherlands to be preserved and protected by AkzoNobel products

AkzoNobel has become a sponsor of Het Koninklijk Concertgebouw, the Royal Concert Hall of the Netherlands, for a period of five years. As part of the collaboration, over the coming years AkzoNobel will help conserve the monumental concert hall in Amsterdam with paint and decorative products from its Sikkens brand.

The unmatched acoustics make the Koninklijk Concertgebouw one of the most important concert halls in the world. With its first concert held in 1888, a great tradition has since been built through legendary concerts of musical magnitude.

“The Koninklijk Concertgebouw is more than just what you see and hear on the stage. It’s like a huge Swiss clock which should be perfectly adjusted to suit the concert - including the décor,” said Simon Reinink, general director of the Koninklijk Concertgebouw. “We are therefore very excited about this cooperation. We cherish our private character and our building. We want to pass the concert hall on to the next generation in top condition, and AkzoNobel has the expertise and products to make this happen.”

“I am extremely proud that we can share our expertise with a world renowned institution like the Koninklijk Concertgebouw, thereby contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage in our country,” said Ruud Joosten, member of the AkzoNobel Executive Committee responsible for Decorative Paints. “This year, the frontage will be restored. We are also involved in the painting of the ‘Grote Zaal’ (Grand Hall). Due to our leading role in innovation, sustainability, technical highlights and color expertise, this unique building will remain beautifully and responsibly preserved for future generations.”

Important contribution to the conservation of cultural heritage

The cooperation of AkzoNobel with the Royal Concertgebouw fits into previous collaborations and partnerships aimed at preserving cultural heritage.

Since 2016, AkzoNobel supports, with its paint and decorative products from Sikkens, the Kinderdijk World Heritage Foundation in the maintenance of the nineteen monumental windmills.

Previously, AkzoNobel has collaborated with the Van Gogh Museum in the preservation of the cultural heritage of Vincent Van Gogh and his contemporaries.

As part of the grand renovation of the Rijksmuseum, AkzoNobel helped restore Pierre Cuypers’ original wall and ceiling decorations to their original glory. By analyzing old paint residues, the composition of the original paint has been identified and reproduced in the original colors of 1885. In addition, AkzoNobel sponsors two PhD candidates in the museum’s restoration lab.

Additionally, in collaboration with the Scheepvaartmuseum in Amsterdam, AkzoNobel has supported the restoration of the Dutch Royal Barge.