De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) has received the Gouden Piramide 2026, the Dutch national award for inspiring client leadership, for the transformation of its headquarters on Frederiksplein in Amsterdam. The award recognises DNB’s ambition to open its building to society and create lasting value for the city.
On 29 October, Minister van Volkshuisvesting en Ruimtelijke Ordening Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan presented the award to Maaike van Leuken, projectdirecteur for the renovation, during a ceremony in The Hague.
The jury praised the building’s contribution to its social surroundings, an accessible, informal setting where people can meet beyond home and work. It highlighted DNB’s deliberate decision to open its doors and remove barriers as an example for other public institutions undertaking renovations.
Designed by Mecanoo, the transformation gives the original 1968 building by Marius Duintjer a renewed relationship with the city. The former gold vault, now part of De Nieuwe Schatkamer, welcomes visitors, while new public spaces and a city garden create opportunities for encounters between employees, neighbours and the wider public.
The jury also commended DNB’s engagement with the surrounding neighbourhood from the outset in 2018, alongside the professionalism and commitment that guided the project through to its reopening in 2025. The renovation became an opportunity to rethink both the building and the organisation’s relationship with society.
Congratulations to DNB on this recognition, and thank you to all our partners and collaborators for helping bring this transformation to life.