Colonial Heritage at the Rijksmuseum

They mainly established colonies by entering into trading agreements, but this often also involved the use of military force. The Rijksmuseum holds many artworks and other objects that were brought to the Netherlands in this period. They include both war booty and trade goods. It is crucial that we at the Rijksmuseum remain open and transparent about the history of this collection, so that we can reflect on the role of the Netherlands in the colonial past. The Rijksmuseum wants to offer nuanced and multifaceted perspectives on this shared past, with the support of research and collaborations with the countries of origin.