Nieuwe Instituut Names Curator for 2027 Dutch Pavilion
Yassine Salihine will lead the Dutch contribution to the 20th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Historical
The Nieuwe Instituut has appointed Yassine Salihine as curator of the Dutch Pavilion at the 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale. The Dutch contribution will be presented within the biennale's theme, curated by Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu.
Why it matters
The appointment sets the Netherlands' representation at one of the world's most prominent architecture exhibitions, shaping how Dutch design is presented to an international audience. It follows a process in which the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science assigned the Nieuwe Instituut to commission the national contribution.
Salihine has served as Head Curator at Design Museum Den Bosch since 2023 and previously spent 13 years as a Dutch journalist before leading his own agency, Salihine Design. Key project details remain unannounced until 2027.
The players
Yassine Salihine
Salihine is a Dutch curator and journalist who has led Design Museum Den Bosch's curatorial work and previously ran his own design agency, Salihine Design.
Nieuwe Instituut
The Nieuwe Instituut is a Dutch national institute for architecture, design, and digital culture based in Rotterdam that commissions the Netherlands' contribution to the Venice Architecture Biennale.
The details
Yassine Salihine will oversee the Dutch Pavilion in the Giardini, the building designed by Gerrit Rietveld in 1954. The Nieuwe Instituut, under director Yesomi Umolu, is responsible for commissioning the Dutch contribution.
Timeline
2023: Salihine becomes Head Curator at Design Museum Den Bosch.
8 May 2027: The 20th International Architecture Exhibition opens in Venice.
21 November 2027: The exhibition closes in Venice.
Historical Context
The Dutch Pavilion in the Giardini was designed by Gerrit Rietveld in 1954, and the 2027 appointment places a new curator within that longstanding national showcase. The Nieuwe Instituut's commissioning role continues a tradition of presenting Dutch design through the Venice Biennale.
For design enthusiasts and architecture students, the appointment signals which Dutch voices will shape the national presentation at Venice in 2027. Those planning to visit the Giardini can expect the exhibition to run from 8 May to 21 November 2027.
The takeaway
The 2027 Venice presentation will be a useful gauge of how the Netherlands frames its architectural heritage alongside contemporary practice. Readers interested in the exhibition can track announcements as the title and concept are revealed next year.
What happens next
The pavilion's title, curatorial concept, collaborators, and exhibitors will be announced in 2027, ahead of the exhibition opening on 8 May 2027.
Further reading
Explore more historical context on architecture and design traditions shaping national pavilions abroad.
Source note: This article includes information reported by E-flux.
