RKD Netherland Institute for art History
The RKD's collections are available in both digital and analogue form. The extensive collection of images (photographs and art work reproductions, systematically filed in maps and boxes) is partly digitalised in Explore. The entire collection can be consulted in the study room. The art historical reference works, other reference works, recent auction catalogues, magazines and various collection of microfiches can be found in the open set-up of the study room. Here you can also make use of the RKD websites to which you are subscribed. The RKD library can only be accessed on location. The staff are more than willing to help you find your way in our collections, and are available for answering all your queries.
Your visitor’s pass (for sale at the reception) grants you access to the books and archives. Jackets, bags and food and drink are not permitted in the study room. You can store these items in the lockers at the reception or in the cellar of the Royal Library (Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB)) complex. The following applies to all the collections: all material must be strictly kept in the order in which it was found. The material will be placed back for you so you don’t have to do it yourself.
It is permitted to make your own photocopies (without flash) of documents or literature. It is also possible to have images copied for you (see the webshop for details). Special rules apply to making copies of archive material and the collection Portrait Iconography.
To request archival material it is necessary to contact archieven@rkd.nl 2 working days prior to the visit. It is not possible to request archival material on site. For archival material from our Special Collections, contact must be made at least 7 working days in advance.
All orginal material from the collection Portrait Iconography Images are only available for consultation by appointment. As this material is stored in a depot you must make an appointment at least three days in advance. The collection Technical Documentation is due to its specialist nature and the fragility of the material only available for consultation with the accompaniment of a staff member. You can make an appointment be sending an e e-mail to by reaching out through our contact form.
Slides and ektas are available for consultation by prior appointment. This also applies to images from the photographic archive of Max J. Friedländer or photographs with his expertises. This is for conservation reasons. Make an appointment at least two days in advance by reaching out through our contact form. We can process your request quicker if you state the number of the image in the name, which can be found in Images.