Privacy policy RKDartists

Personal data

The GDPR lays down regulations for the collection and use of personal data of living persons by companies and institutions, in order to safeguard the privacy of those this information pertains to. Starting point is the requirement that this be done in accordance with the law, in an appropriate manner, and with due care. Personal data are taken to mean all details which directly or indirectly can be traced back to one unique individual (the person involved).

Purpose and legal basis of personal data processing

The database RKDartists is part of the RKD database Explore and is managed by the RKD Foundation – Netherlands Institute for Art History (RKD). Globally, the RKD is one of the most important institutions in the field of documentation of and research into Dutch art in an international context. The RKD manages an extensive and unique analogue Dutch national art collection, consisting of archives, libraries, and image documentation.

Under the Cultural Heritage Law, the RKD’s management tasks include enabling the collection’s accessibility. The collection is made digitally accessible through www.rkd.nl in a series of databases. Within this network of RKD databases, RKDartists serves an important reference function and is considered a standard within the knowledge domain of the heritage sector. In RKDartists biographical details on artists, art historians, collectors, and other relevant persons from antiquity to the present are processed. RKDartists is available as LOD (Linked Open Data) and as part of the Network of Terms of the Digital Heritage Network (Netwerk Digitaal Erfgoed, NDE). This means any institution is able to directly create a link between RKDartists and its own CMS (Content Management System).

Our processing of personal data for the abovementioned purposes is in accordance with the legal basis ‘legitimate interest’ pursuant to the GDPR.

The entering of personal data

It is primarily by RKD staff that personal data are entered into RKDartists. In order to maintain its significance, the RKD has developed Artists4All. Artists4All offers carefully selected experts outside the RKD the opportunity to expand and enhance information on specific sub-areas in RKDartists.

The RKD takes great care with the data of those concerned and has stipulated in the cataloguing guidelines that those entering the data into the database of RKDartists exclusively process data that comply with the purposes stated above.

Processed personal data

The personal data that have been processed include data on artists, art historians, collectors, and other persons relevant to the knowledge domain from antiquity to the present. The information comes from documents - published or otherwise made publicly available by those concerned - of which the description has been included in a catalogue or other registration- or search system by libraries or similar organizations, or from generally accessible resources. Data that are processed are:

1. Preferred name/name variations
2. Sex
3. Birth/place of death/dates
4. Nationality/education
5. Academy/training
6. Places/dates of employment
7. Qualification
8. Sources
9. Subjects
10. Student/teacher

Retention period

In view of the aims personal data are processed for, they are in principle to be saved permanently. Personal data are deleted by the RKD when the legitimate interest on the basis of which the RKD processes them no longer applies.

Modification and deletion

If your data have been recorded in RKDartists, you have the right to submit a request to have that information modified, expanded, or deleted. In that case, it is important that you are able to present valid identification, and can demonstrate that the information you would like to have modified, expanded, or deleted is, in fact, yours. To establish your identity, you can come by appointment with a valid identity document. You can also send a copy of your proof of identity with the request. In this copy, in the interest of safeguarding your privacy, please black out your passport photo, MRZ (machine readable zone, the band with numbers at the bottom of the passport), passport number, and citizen service number (Burgerservicenummer, BSN).

When considering a request to modify or delete information, the RKD will also take into consideration the verifiable correctness of and public access to the recorded data. We will respond to your request as soon as possible and no later than 4 weeks. Please send in your request via our contact form.