Migrants arriving in the Netherlands influenced the country’s society and culture, and the Rijksmuseum collection reflects their influence. Contributions from people from a variety of backgrounds have resulted in a richly varied collection of cultural objects in the museum. Provenance research helps us gain an understanding of these objects and discover the circumstances under which they were collected, arrived in the Netherlands and entered the museum. The stories that come to light show how migrants have contributed to the shaping of the Netherlands. Each of these objects represents an aspect of a former life, the hopes of someone looking to start a new life and integrate into Dutch society, and the challenges they faced. They bear witness to the rich and diverse history of the Netherlands.
Getting started with the collection: