A global leader in collection management
The National Museum of Photography is a global leader in collection management and the protection of photographic archives. The work of the Museum, including its exhibitions and public programme, center around its collection, which is an ever-growing record of Dutch photographic history. The museum has amassed a unique collection for more than 25 years. It is estimated the collection will reach 7.5 million images by 2028.
Collection and Conservation Centre
Photography is an incredibly fragile medium. It’s our responsibility to preserve and protect the photographic heritage of the Netherlands. Our collection of over 6.5 million objects is stored in our climate-controlled Collection and Conservation Centre.
Glass walls allow you to see the collection. Experience the history of photography from early daguerreotypes and glass negatives to the present. The extensive collection covers Dutch photography, namely works by photographers residing and working in the Netherlands, with a focus on 20th-century analogue and documentary photography.
What sets the collection apart?
Setting the collection apart are more than 175 entire photography archives of renowned Dutch photographers. This includces Ed van der Elsken, Cas Oorthuys and Esther Kroon, along with a vast quantity of negatives and slides.
The collection also includes exceptional photography from the Netherlands’ former colonies, such as the work of Kassian Céphas, who photographed at the court of the sultan of Yogyakarta in the late 19th century, and Augusta Curiel, who operated a photography studio in Suriname a century ago.
Our image bank is open for business
The museum’s image bank contains over 300,000 images. Although the museum is currently closed, our image bank is always open. You can still review our collection and purchase photo prints.
The fastest way is to purchase a print is in our online shop, you can choose from 180 prints. Professional users can also purchase prints via the image bank. The museum also supplies photos for newspapers, news platforms, magazines, books and exhibitions.