The RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History is the global research and documentation centre for fine arts in the Netherlands. We collect, manage and provide access to art historical information for a.o. museums, academia and the public.
The RKD is one of the world's leading documentation and research institutes. As a knowledge institute we work in collaboration with museums, heritage institutes, universities and private institutes. Our staff are involved in research, publications and organising events. We manage unique archives, documentation and photographic material and the largest art historical library on Western art from the Late Middle Ages to present, with the focus on Netherlandish art. Our collections contain not only paintings, drawings and sculptures, but also cover monumental art, modern media and design. The collections are present in both digital and analogue form (the latter in our study rooms). Mission The RKD provides museums, academia and the public with global access to knowledge and information about visual arts of the Low Countries in an international context. Vision The RKD manages, maintains, researches and indexes art historical knowledge and information for museums, science and the general public. The RKD strives to actively involve the general public in its developments and ambitions by providing a valuable (digital) service, to reach a wide audience and to achieve digital sustainability. Our outward-looking strategy enables us to give form to our mission.