Wim Pijbes

A documentary about the fascinating and complicated process of the rebuilding of Holland's most famous museum, The Rijksmuseum. The film shows the people behind the scenes during the years of demolition, restoration, and political and financial debate. We witness their efforts, joys and struggles with one goal in common: the love of art.

Should the statues of Piet Hein be allowed to remain standing—and if so, with what message? Director Tim van den Hoff humorously portrays the abrasive relationship with our colonial past and the discomfort administrators struggle with as they care for their heritage. The simultaneous restorations of the statue of Piet Hein in his birthplace of Delfshaven, his mausoleum in the Oude Kerk in Delft, and a statue in Matanzas, Cuba (where the Silver Fleet was captured) offer a glimpse into the wondrous world of heritage and hero worship, and show how the myth of Piet Hein still lives on nearly 400 years after his death.