Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam

You're standing at the building of the Royal Tropical Institute, in the east of Amsterdam. Take in the size of it. This complex was built between 1915 and 1926 to house the Colonial Institute and a museum. Architect Johannes van Nieukerken drew up the design, but he died in 1913, before construction began. His sons Johan and Marie Adrianus finished the job. Money came from, among others, the Bataafse Petroleum Maatschappij, which later became Shell, from other trading companies and from the Ministry of the Colonies.