Centraal Museum & Rietveld

Centraal Museum & Rietveld

The Centraal Museum manages the Rietveld Schröder House and the complete Rietveld Schröder Archive. The museum also has the largest Rietveld collection in the world.

The Centraal Museum manages the Rietveld Schröder House and the complete Rietveld Schröder Archive. The museum also has the largest Rietveld collection in the world.

In 1970, Truus Schröder established the Rietveld Schröder House Foundation to preserve the building for future generations. At her death in 1985, ownership of the house passed to the foundation. After a full-scale restoration, the foundation transferred management of the house to the Centraal Museum in Utrecht, which is responsible for opening up the historic house museum and for its preservation. In 1987, the Rietveld Schröder House opened its doors to the public. In 2000, it was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List.

Rietveld Schröderhuis kitchen

The kitchen, shortly after the restoration

Rietveld Schröder Archive

As well as managing the house itself, the Central Museum is also responsible for the management and preservation of the complete Rietveld Schröder Archive. Compiled by Truus Schröder, the archive spans 2,000 sketches, 2,000 pictures, 1,800 letters and various texts and other documentary material connected with Rietveld and Schröder. Almost all of the archival material has been digitised. The archive can be consulted at centraalmuseum.nl.

Rietveld drawing

One of Rietveld's drawings from the Archive, inventory number 004 A 019

World's largest Rietveld collection

The Centraal Museum has the largest Rietveld collection in the world, consisting of more than 250 furnishings and other objects, including mock-ups and scale models. His world-renowned Red and Blue Chair, Berlin Chair and Military Chair are all on display at the Rietveld Schröder House. Curious to take a seat in Rietveld's designs yourself? You can, at the Centraal Museum, which has replicas of his famous chairs that you are welcome to test. While you're there, discover more of this marvellous collection in the museum's permanent Rietveld display. The Centraal Museum also regularly mounts international exhibitions about Rietveld.

Online collection

See the Rietveld collection at the Centraal Museum.