Moco Museum

Moco Museum - Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"What’s this place all about? With its heady mix of Pop Art and works by graffiti rock stars, Moco has enough contemporary swagger to make the neighboring  Rijksmuseum  and  Van Gogh Museum  quake in their old-school boots. Not quite on the main tourist trail, this private museum was opened in 2016 by prominent local gallerists Lionel and Kim Logchies. It continues to hog headlines, helped along by a magnificent setting in Villa Alsberg, a 1904 beauty designed by the nephew of Rijksmuseum architect Pierre Cuypers. Ye shall know them by their permanent collection: How was it? The Logchies, who have strong relationships with major private collectors, called in serious favors for their permanent Banksy display, featuring a whopping 50 works (rarely seen indoor paintings and drawings, alongside transplanted street murals like the beloved  Girl With Balloon ) by the British graffiti master.  But also by their new shows. How were the exhibits? Starting with Warhol, on to Keith Haring and the “Banksy of Iran,” this place is pop and proud. Their starry temporary exhibits showcase contemporary virtuosos like Yayoi Kusama and The Kid, while the addition of NFTs from pioneering digital artists fully immerse you in another world. Be sure to check out the garden and its rotating array of large-scale sculptures by the likes of Marcel Wanders. Who are we likely to see here? Kids under 7 and Banksy get free access here—though you’re unlikely to see too many of the former, and the latter will show up when pigs fly. But between students profiting from special rates and major Banksy philes (just about everyone these days), it can get annoyingly crowded. First thing and Friday late nights are best—or just escape into the garden and browse the sculptures, if you need some air. On the practical tip, how are facilities? A cloakroom and small couches on some floors are about as far as Moco nods to the visitor experience—shocker—and given the amount of stairs and lack of elevator, it’s guaranteed frustration for those with mobility issues. Any guided tours worth trying? English and Dutch audio guides, pulling out top draws in the Banksy collection, cost a handful of euros. While there aren’t too many activation points, and the whole tour only lasts around 30 minutes, they’re actually worth it for getting to grips with the most publicity-shy of artists. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it? Obligatory obviously—Banksy and gift shops have been twinned in the public imagination ever since 2010 documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop debuted. This one is indeed by the exit and full of an array of organic cotton tees, mugs, posters and calendars (also tied to temporary shows) as well as limited-edition Banksy prints for big-spenders. Is the café worth a stop, or should we just plan on going elsewhere? The obligatory museum café stop is not so obligatory here, because, well, there isn't one—but then you’ll hardly have a problem scouting out snack stops on Museumplein. Any advice, if we're short on time (or we have a particularly museum-itchy friend)? That friend is in luck. Even taking time to ogle all the Banksys, you can be in and out within an hour." - Clodagh Kinsella