The Hermitage museum of St Petersburg has announced its intention to open a branch in Amsterdam where it will organise two yearly exhibitions due to attract some 250 000 visitors, it was announced in . The branch will be situated in the Amstelhof, a building erected in 1683 on the bank of the Amstel river, near the Opera House. The project will cost some US $ 60 million. The Hermitage museum also plans to open a branch in London.