A commissioned study showed that the annual economic impact of Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, which recently underwent an extensive renovation, has increased to €235 million since reopening. 80% of the reported increase is a result of the spike in visitor expenditure. In addition to boosting the city’s economy, the Rijksmuseum has created approximately 1,000 jobs since the renovation.

Wim Pijbes, Director of the Rijksmuseum, said, “It is clear that the investment in the new Rijksmuseum has had major consequences that stretch far beyond the walls of the building itself. These results prove that the age-old wisdom of John Paul Getty still rings true: fine art is the finest investment.”

The Rijksmuseum, which was founded in 1798, is the national museum of the Netherlands. It reopened to the public after a 10 year, €375 million renovation on April 13,2013. The Rijksmuseum welcomed its millionth visitor on August 23, 2013.