Women of the Rijksmuseum
For everyone a story
Women of the Rijksmuseum is the Rijksmuseum research programme dedicated to improving gender balance. The project began on 8 March 2021, International Women’s Day, when the Rijksmuseum exhibited three works by women artists in the Gallery of Honour for the first time in history.
WOMEN OF THE RIJKSMUSEUM FUND
One year later the Women of the Rijksmuseum Fund was launched by the Rijksmuseum in association with private donors. In 2023 fashion house CHANEL joined as project partner. The Women of the Rijksmuseum Fund supports a rolling programme of research, education, publications and acquisitions to increase the visibility of women in the cultural history of the Netherlands and other countries.
MISSION
Women of the Rijksmuseum conducts research that aims to strengthen and embed the role of women in cultural history, to foster gender equality and the importance of diversity and inclusion.
AIMS
The purpose of the research project is to increase the visibility of women’s contributions to Dutch cultural history and to incorporate their stories in exhibitions, media outputs, publications and the presentation of the collection. There are three central activities of this research project:
- Identifying and supplementing information on women artists represented in the Rijksmuseum collection and ensuring their records are available in our database.
- Conducting research into the life stories of women connected with objects in the collection, and filling gaps in information on women represented in works of art.
- Conducting research into the history of the Rijksmuseum with particular attention for women collectors, donors, patrons and former staff members.
PUBLICATIONS
The outcomes of research conducted by the Women of the Rijksmuseum regularly appear in publications. Please click here for the complete list.
SYMPOSIUMS
From 2022 to 2026 the Women of the Rijksmuseum programme is staging an annual series of international symposiums under the umbrella title Women of the Museum.
RIJKSMUSEUM APP – ‘WOMEN’ AUDIO TOUR
RIJKSMUSEUM BULLETINS
In Vol. 71 No. 1 (2023) and Vol. 73 No. 1 (2025) two issues of the bulletin were entirely devoted to women.
VIDEO – WOMEN OF THE RIJKSMUSEUM
STAFF MEMBERS FUNDED BY THE WOMEN OF THE RIJKSMUSEUM FUND
Marion van Anker, Co-chair Women of the Rijksmuseum and Research Associate
Laurien van der Werff, Co-chair Women of the Rijksmuseum and Research Associate
Ceri-Anne van de Geer, Research Associate Women Donors
Gabriëlle Negrón, Research Associate Collection Database
Nathalie Ho-Kang-You, Project Assistant
The working group also includes representatives from various departments within the Rijksmuseum: Fine Arts, History, Print Room, Public & Education, Development, Communications & Marketing, Bureau Collections, Exhibitions, and Service & Security.
CONTACT
If you wish like to contribute or receive more information about donating, please contact us at schenkingen@rijksmuseum.nl or +31 20 6747497
We thank
Women of the Rijksmuseum is made possible by CHANEL, the Susi Zijderveld Fund, the Familie Krouwels Fund, the Machteld Vos & Willem Sijthoff Fund, the Heleen Dura van Oord Fund, the Kind Courage Monique Maarsen Fund, the Familie Staal Fund, the Karin van Leeuwen Fund, the Dreesmann-Beerkens Fund, the Sofronie Foundation, the Linne & Marijn Pijnenborg Fund, the Jolanda Degen Fund, the Lara Timmerman Fund, the Antoinette Rolloos Hueber Fund, the Hendrikje Crebolder Fund, Amy Novogratz & Mike Velings, the Femke Dijkhuis Fund, the Bianca van Galen Fund, Jenny Reynaerts, and and the Women of the Rijksmuseum Fund.