The selection of architects for the new Rijksmuseum took place in 2000. The intention was to split the task in three and to select three architects: a chief architect, a restoration architect and an architect for the Atelier Building on Hobbemastraat. For government commissions of this magnitude a European tender procedure is mandatory. Around the turn of the century, the Rijksgebouwendienst (Government Buildings Agency; Rgd) was handling some 20 such procedures a year, in all of which the Chief Government Architect played a key role.