Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven (must see)

Van Abbemuseum is a museum of modern and contemporary art named after its founder, cigar manufacturer, and private art collector, Henri van Abbe. The museum opened in 1936.

Van Abbe planned the museum to introduce the public to contemporary art. He loaned his extensive collection for display. He also donated today's equivalent of $1.5 million to build the museum and buy more works of art.

The building, designed by architect Alexander Jacobus Kropholler, is constructed in the Traditionalist architectural style. A wing added in 2003 significantly increased the size of the museum. The new wing was designed by Abel Cahen on the exterior and by Maarten van Severen on the interior.

Van Abbemuseum has more than 2,700 works of art. Pieces include sculptures, drawings, paintings, installations, and videos. It has one of the world's largest art collections by El Lissitzky, a Russian artist, designer, photographer, and architect. Other artists featured at the museum include Pablo Piccaso, Marc Chagall, Piet Mondrian, Theo van Doesburg, and Wassily Kandinsky. Auguste Rodin’s statue of Honoré de Balzac, bought by the city of Eindhoven in 1965, has stood in the garden of the Van Abbemuseum.