Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde

Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde

Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde is an ethnology museum located in Leiden, South Holland, the Netherlands. Established in 1837, it is one of the earliest ethnographic museums in Europe. It was the first museum in Europe designed to demonstrate that collecting human handmade artifacts could be more meaningful than merely amassing curiosities. From the very beginning, this innovative institution adopted at least four core principles: collection, research, public exhibition, and educational guidance.

The history of the Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde’s collection is intertwined with the history of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. King William I (1772–1843) dispatched scholars abroad to collect materials and information for Dutch museums. In 1816, the Royal Cabinet of Chinese Rarities was established. In 1821, it expanded into the Royal Cabinet of Curiosities based in The Hague. Over time, various rarities were added to this collection, but the most significant part was the ethnographic collection—especially the Japanese collections of Blokhover and Fischer purchased in 1826 and 1832 respectively, as well as Siebold’s Japanese collection acquired in 1837. These ethnographic collections formed the foundation of the ethnographic museum established in Leiden in 1837, which later evolved into the Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde.

Renowned worldwide for its outstanding and well-documented collections, the Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde stands among international-tier museums. Its holdings were assembled by a series of distinguished collectors and now include numerous items from Africa, South America, North America, Oceania, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and other parts of Asia.

National Museum of Ethnology (Netherlands)

Must-visit reason: One of the earliest ethnographic museums in Europe

Continent: Europe

Country/Region: Netherlands

Province/State: South Holland

City: Leiden