Collections and services

Rijksmuseum Research Library Collections

The Rijksmuseum Research Library is one of the world's leading art libraries. Since 1885, it has been collecting books, journals, annual reports, auction-, exhibition-, trade- and collection catalogues relating to the museum's collections. You can find these publications in the library catalogue and consult them in the Research Library. For more information about visiting the Research Library, please see this this page.

Auction Catalogues

The Rijksmuseum holds approximately 130,000 auction catalogues dating from the 17th century to the present day, with new catalogues added to the collection every week.

Around half of these catalogues are now listed in the Rijksmuseum Research Library's online library catalogue. Catalogues acquired before 1989 can be found in the printed catalogue. If you are looking for a catalogue that is not listed online, please contact the Rijksmuseum Research Library.

You can also access Art Sales Catalogues Online (ASCO) in the Research Library. This database contains over 20,000 historical auction catalogues dating from 1600 to 1900 and also provides access to Lugt's Répertoire Online.

Special Library Collections

In addition to its regular collection, the Research Library holds publications that have been given museum status because of their age, format, content or provenance. These 'Special Collections' include, among others, early editions, books containing original prints or photographs, special bibliophile editions, artists’ books, recipe books and all works belonging to the Royal Antiquarian Society (KOG).

In the library catalogue, these publications are marked with an asterisk and labelled ‘Special Collections’. For more information about consulting these materials, please see this page.

In addition to the regular collection, the Research Library contains publications that have been awarded museum status due to their publication date, format, contents or provenance. These ‘Special Collections’ include, among others, early editions, books with original prints or photographs, special bibliophile editions, artist’s books, recipe books, and all works of the Royal Antiquarian Society (KOG). In the catalogue, these works are marked with an asterisk and labeled as ‘Special Collections’. Visit this page for more information about booking a workspace.

Databases and Digital Collections

The Rijksmuseum Research Library also provides access to digital journals, e-books and a range of important databases covering art history and history. Most of these resources can only be accessed on site, using your own laptop connected to RijksWiFi or Eduroam. You can find an overview of the available databases here.

Works on Paper

In the Study Room Prints and Drawings, you can study works on paper from the collections of the Rijksmuseum Print Room, the Rijksmuseum's Department of Dutch History and the Royal Antiquarian Society (KOG). You can search these collections in Collection Online. For more information about making an appointment to visit the Study Room, please see this page.

Consulting documentation

Since the Rijksmuseum was founded, its museum staff have been gathering documentation relating to the collection. This includes information about the meaning, function and history of objects, such as articles, newspaper clippings, conservation reports, historical and more recent photographs, and provenance records. The contents of each file vary depending on the object.

Almost all collection documentation is available for research purposes. However, correspondence and information about purchase prices and insurance values are not publicly accessible.

Documentation files can be requested by submitting this form. If you have any questions or would like to enquire whether documentation is available for a specific object, please also use this form to contact us.

Conservation documentation is only available upon submission of a request explaining why you wish to consult it, using this form.

Rijksmuseum Archive

The Rijksmuseum Archive dates back to the beginning of the 19th century. It contains information about the institution and its operations, for example about acquisitions, exhibitions, museum buildings, administration and staff.

The archive is held at two locations. Records dating from before 1995, the year the Rijksmuseum became an independent organisation, are held at the Noord-Hollands Archief (NHA) in Haarlem and can be consulted there.

The Rijksmuseum itself manages archival records and files dating from 1995 onwards. For more information about these records and how to consult them, please contact the Rijksmuseum archive staff using this form. Please note that information about acquisitions is not always publicly available.

Rijksmuseum Photography Archive

The Rijksmuseum Photography Archive consists mainly of photographs of objects in the museum's collection. It also includes photographs of exhibitions, events in and around the museum, and the museum building itself. Much of the older material is preserved in its original form, including glass negatives, photographic film negatives, Ektachromes and photographic prints.

For more information about the Photography Archive and how to consult its materials, please contact the Image Department.

Archives and Letter Collections

The Rijksmuseum holds archives and letters from third parties that are closely connected to the museum's collections. Some of these archives are listed in the library catalogue, while others can be found in Collection Online. For more information about how to consult these archives and letters, please contact our information specialists using this form.