Kunstinstituut Melly

The Kunstinstituut Melly (Melly Art Institute) is located on Rotterdam’s main cultural street, Witte de With. The building, dating back to the 1870s, was once a school. It shares the premises with TENT, a platform for contemporary art exhibitions, performances, and other activities, as well as serving as a practice space for students.

Kunstinstituut Melly is one of the Netherlands’ most significant contemporary art institutes.

Founded in 1990 as the Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, the institute acquired its new name in 2021 after several debates.

Witte de With was a Dutch naval officer in the 17th century who served in the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the Dutch West India Company (VIC). Witte de With led numerous colonial expeditions to India, Indonesia, and South America. Due to its colonial past, the decision was made to change the institution’s name.

The name “Melly” comes from a work by Canadian artist Kem Lum (“Melly Shum Hates Her Job”), which has been installed on one of the building’s facades since 1990.

Kunstinstituut Melly focuses on all branches of contemporary art, organizing exhibitions, debates, courses, commissioning artworks, hosting events, and publishing.

They also contribute to the introduction and promotion of international artists in the local and European scene.

The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Kunstinstituut Melly. Witte de Withstraat 50, 3012 BR Rotterdam

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