Valkhof Museum: Nijmegen takes a new look at its borders

After its reopening in June, the museum links Roman history, a new collection presentation and contemporary art.

Museum Magazine · 13 October 2026

The museum building at the Kelfkensbos, seen from the square. — The museum façade in Nijmegen in 2022, before the renovation and reopening under the name Valkhof Museum. Photo: acediscovery / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 · Image source

Valkhof Museum in Nijmegen reopened on 6 June 2026 after a major renovation. It was previously called Museum Het Valkhof. The building stands near the former northern border of the Roman Empire.

The museum had the building made more transparent and more energy-efficient. UNStudio, the firm of Ben van Berkel that also designed the original museum, worked on the renewal. The municipality of Nijmegen financed the renovation. The address at Kelfkensbos 59 was retained.

Four Roman amphorae on plinths in a former museum display. — Roman amphorae in the former Museum Het Valkhof, photographed in 2013; this is not an image of the current presentation. Photo: Carole Raddato / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Image source

The new collection presentation is called De mens op de grens. In eight chapters the museum explores how borders arise, shift and are moved. According to the exhibition page, these are geographical, social and societal borders.

The collection page mentions, among other things, a bronze portrait head of Trajan, a cavalry helmet with face mask, the Kantharos of Stevensweert and a Carolingian capital from the Valkhof. These objects indicate the range in time and material of the collection.

In Van binnenuit, five contemporary artists explore basic human emotions through space-filling installations inspired by the collection. The museum names Narges Mohammadi, Kader Attia, Mette Sterre, Nick Verstand and FreelingWaters. The exhibition has been announced as multi-year.

According to the museum agenda, the opening exhibition Fernando Sánchez Castillo: Power of the People runs from 6 June to 15 November 2026. It can therefore still be seen in October alongside the new collection presentation and Van binnenuit.

Valkhof Museum is at Kelfkensbos 59, 6511 TB Nijmegen. According to the visit page, it is open Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 17:00 and at weekends from 10:00 to 18:00. Tickets have a time slot. A regular adult ticket costs €19.50; young people up to and including age seventeen and Museumkaart holders have free admission.