VanWonen opens doors to Rietveld office during Open Monument Day
News item, Area and Property Development
On Saturday 13 September, during Open Monument Day, VanWonen will open the doors of its historic Rietveld office in Zwolle. The office features typical Rietveld characteristics, such as a careful composition of planes and lines and visible, exposed structure throughout the interior. On Open Monument Day, VanWonen employees will offer guided tours, and an exhibition on the work of Gerrit Rietveld work will be on display.
The office in Zwolle is a rare gem in Gerrit Rietveld’s portfolio. It is the one and only office he ever designed. Commissioned by Binnert Schröder, director of Schrale’s Beton, its functionalist design is a prime example of the movement ‘Nieuwe Bouwen’ (New Objectivity). Rietveld’s vision was to create a space defined by its purpose and built with the fewest possible materials. His work is known for the careful composition of planes and lines, with the building’s structure deliberately exposed within the interior. Large glass facades create a seamless connection between all the rooms and the outdoors, allowing daylight to flood in. In 2014, the building was designated a national monument. Since December 2017, property developer VanWonen has been based in the office and has largely restored the building to its original glory.
Miranda Venekamp-Brandt, Director of Marketing, Sales and Rental Operations at VanWonen: “We are quite proud to work from this one-of-a-kind office. The abundance of natural light, human-centric design, and inspiring atmosphere make it a place where you instantly feel at home. We can’t wait to welcome visitors on Open Monument Day and let them discover firsthand just how special and delightful Rietveld’s design still is.”
Exhibition on the life and work of Gerrit Rietveld
This year’s Open Monument Day theme is ‘Heritage & Architecture’. Zwolle will also be celebrating its rich variety of historic buildings. The VanWonen office will be hosting a newly curated exhibition about architect Gerrit Rietveld and the history of the Rietveld office. The exhibition has been curated by the Heritage Conservation Department (‘Monumentenzorg’) of the municipality of Zwolle.
Address and programme
Come explore the Rietveld office during Open Monument Day on Saturday 13 September 2025. This national monument will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guided tours will run all day, led by VanWonen employees, and you can also visit the Gerrit Rietveld exhibition. At 1 p.m., there will be a performance by the Zwolle saxophone orchestra For Saxes Only. The address is Willemsvaart 21, 8019 AB Zwolle. Parking is available at both the front and rear of the building and is free of charge.
