For almost a year, I worked by hand on the golden plaster walls on the exterior of the former vault of De Nederlandsche Bank in Amsterdam.
High-quality stucco
These walls are often described as painted gold. They are not.
They are made of specially developed plaster, built up layer by layer, using high-quality stucco materials with gold pigments integrated into the surface itself. The material carries depth, weight, and reflection. It is architectural, tactile, and permanent.
The former vault is now open to the public as De Nieuwe Schatkamer.
As DNB states:
“This public space in and around the former gold vault is called De Nieuwe Schatkamer, and it will be open to everyone.”
— De Nederlandsche Bank
Mecanoo
I was invited by Mecanoo to contribute my craftsmanship to this renovation. Mecanoo’s approach to the project is described as follows:
“Respecting architect Marius Duintjer’s original design, the building’s openness and transparency have been restored, enhancing its connection with the city.”
Architect Francine Houben described the transformation as a return to strength and clarity. That intention guided my work on the walls. These surfaces are not decorative. They form the outer skin of what was once the most secure place in the city.
DNB: open and accessible
As Klaas Knot, President of DNB, stated:
“At DNB, we are at the very heart of society, so it is important for us to be open and accessible.”
The golden walls reflect that shift—from closed to open, from guarded to shared.
Every square meter was applied by hand. Time, material, and attention are visible in the surface.
