The roof extension, known as the 'Eye', is clad in 55,000 hand-glazed tiles.
The museum's collection was largely formed by the private estate of art dealer Dirk Hannema.
The historic building originally served as the Palace of Justice for the Province of Overijssel.
The site hosts a sculpture terrace on the roof, offering panoramic views of the Zwolle city center.
Dirk Hannema, the founder, was a former director of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
The museum regularly rotates works from the Hannema-de Stuers Fundatie collection.
The building is situated on the site of a former medieval gate house.
The 'Eye' extension added roughly 1,000 square meters of exhibition space.
Museum de Fundatie is housed in the Paleis aan de Blijmarkt, a former 19th-century courthouse building in Zwolle. Its most distinctive architectural feature is the 'Eye', an elliptical, white-tiled roof extension that appears to float above the historic neo-classical structure. The museum holds the extensive art collection of the Province of Overijssel, encompassing works from the late Middle Ages to the contemporary era. It frequently hosts high-profile temporary exhibitions, ranging from international modern art to historical surveys. The permanent collection includes significant Dutch and European pieces, featuring artists like Van Gogh, Mondrian, and Marc Chagart. The interior blends historic vaulted ceilings with modern white-cube exhibition spaces. It serves as one of the most prominent cultural institutions in the eastern Netherlands. The building was transformed into its current museum form by architect Hubert-Jan Henket in 2013.
The view from the street level looking up at the contrast between the historic stone facade and the modern 'Eye' roof structure.
Check the official exhibition calendar online before visiting, as current exhibits change frequently.
Take the elevator to the top floor to access the roof terrace, which offers the best perspective of the building's unique architecture.
Visit the museum shop for high-quality catalogs related to previous international temporary exhibitions.
Do not overlook the top-floor galleries, as many visitors mistakenly stop after the lower exhibition halls.
Closed on Mondays.
Photography is permitted without flash; large backpacks must be left in the provided lockers.
