The main structure was designed by Gerrit Rietveld and opened in 1973. The architect of the Exhibition Wing was Kisho Kurokawa; it was completed in 1999.
Two of Van Gogh's works were stolen from the museum on the night of 6-7 December 2002: View of the Sea at Scheveningen (Zeegezicht bij Scheveningen) and Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen (Het uitgaan van de hervormde kerk te Nuenen).