The Dutch Government Building Agency is the biggest commissioner of art in the world. In the Netherlands it is obligatory to devote a percentage of the building costs of all government premises to art in the public domain. This so called ‘percentage for art programme’ has been in force for sixty years. This richly illustrated jubilee publication presents a survey of sixty years of Dutch art as well as sixty years of public commissions.

Lloyd Benjamin III wrote an essay on the significance of this art for the development of art in the Netherlands. Wijnand Galema describes the history of the percentage programme, the highs and lows, and the tension between art and architecture. The heart of the book shows fifty of the best works of art. They are arranged per decade and preceded by a sort introduction on that specific decade. The volume concludes with a list of every public commission placed.

The Dutch Government Building Agency is the biggest commissioner of art in the world. In the Netherlands it is obligatory to devote a percentage of the building costs of all government premises to art in the public domain. This so called ‘percentage for art programme’ has been in force for sixty years. This richly illustrated jubilee publication presents a survey of sixty years of Dutch art as well as sixty years of public commissions.

Lloyd Benjamin III wrote an essay on the significance of this art for the development of art in the Netherlands. Wijnand Galema describes the history of the percentage programme, the highs and lows, and the tension between art and architecture. The heart of the book shows fifty of the best works of art. They are arranged per decade and preceded by a sort introduction on that specific decade. The volume concludes with a list of every public commission placed.