At Home in the 17th Century

Full of contrasts

In the lively and diverse 17th century you’ll meet all sorts of people – from big families to single individuals; the rich and the poor; migrants and merchants; Protestants, Jews and Catholics. Their homes were as different as their lifestyles. The everyday objects on display offer a window onto all facets of society in this time.

So much to discover

Household items such as brooms and earthenware cooking pots contrast with the fireplace that Philip Vingboons designed for Amsterdam’s mayor Joan Huydecoper, as well as a unique set of silk stays and busk, a highlight of the V&A Museum collection in London. At the heart of the exhibition stand two of the most outstanding items from the Rijksmuseum collection: the famous doll’s houses commissioned by Petronella Oortman and Petronella Dunois.

From a cobweb brush to silverware

Experience a whole day in the 17th century, from early morning to late evening. Walk through the galleries filled with fascinating objects – from a cobweb brush to silverware. Discover that each one has something to say about the people who owned them and how they lived. Like us, they struggled to combine work and domestic life, had sex lives, and mourned the loss of family members. But sometimes they made different choices to us – in the realms of health, interior design and the division of home labour, for example. You’ll feel how the 17th century is so close to us in some ways, and so far away in others. 

The cardboard world of Steef de Jong

The designer of the exhibition is theatre practitioner and visual artist Steef de Jong – he has used cardboard as his primary material for the exhibition, just as he does for his theatre productions. The nine diorama-style displays he has created will transport you to a variety of domestic scenes set at different times of the day.

The doll's house of Petronella Oortman

The centrepiece of the exhibition is the doll’s house of Petronella Oortman, an extremely wealthy woman. One of the highlights of the Rijksmuseum collection, it has now been fully digitised for the first time. In the online special released in October 2025, you will be able to explore the miniature rooms of the doll’s house for yourself.

Partnerships

Our educational offer includes a partnership with Karina Schaapmans, of much-loved Mouse Mansion fame. Pols Potten has created a special tableware service inspired by the exhibition.

The exhibition At home in the 17th Century is made possible by Rijksmuseum Friends, Stichting Zabawas, Stichting Thurkowfonds and through the Rijksmuseum Fonds: Fonds Dirk Jan van Orden, Lucy en Bas van der Vlist Fonds, Sara Geertruida Aalders-Huender Fonds, Fonds Sascha Ladenius and a private donor.