Art by the bank

Rabobank was formed in 1972 through a merger between Raiffeisen Bankand Boerenleenbank. The local Rabobank branches enjoyed a high degree of autonomy. They were free to use the publicity budget at their own discretion to build goodwill within their local communities. This was often used to give something back to society, an approach that would later come to be known as corporate social responsibility. Sports clubs and music societies, for example, have traditionally been supported. From the 1980s onwards, art was purchased to decorate public spaces and offices, based on the idea that art inspires, stimulates and is good for people. By displaying a beautiful vase or sculpture in the lobby, the bank could show visitors what it considered important. Sometimes this was used to demonstrate additional support for the region by purchasing works from local artists.

This collection from Rabobank shows how art has found a place within the working environment. The works were collected between 1975 and 2010. As the number of physical branches continues to decline, Rabobank has donated some of the glass objects to the National Glass Museum, so that they can once again be admired in a public space.

The exhibition ‘Art at the Bank’ will be on display from 5 September to 15 November 2026 at the National Glass Museum.