No Photography Allowed！A Dutch Museum Invites Travelers to Co-Create

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department, compiled and reported by Liao Qiyu
 
It’s quite common to prohibit photography in exhibition spaces, but the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, not only bans photography but also launched a special initiative in October 2015 called “#startdrawing.” It not only asks visitors to put down their cameras but also provides everyone with paper and pens, hoping to encourage people to record the artworks before them through drawing instead of photography.

The Rijksmuseum, the largest museum in the Netherlands, boasts an extensive collection that includes many iconic masterpieces. Its diverse and in-depth curation methods earned it the title of Europe’s Best Museum in 2015. Recently, recognizing how taking photos for social media has become a daily routine in modern life—whether with phones or cameras—yet often leads people to leave without truly engaging, the museum felt this behavior causes people to miss out on the importance of being present and appreciating beauty and art. To encourage visitors to spend more time and thought truly appreciating the artworks, the Rijksmuseum held the “#startdrawing” event in October, explicitly banning the use of cameras and smartphones, and inviting participants to capture the beauty of the artworks with pen and paper.

Although the “#startdrawing” event has concluded, every Saturday will now be the Rijksmuseum’s “Drawing Day,” featuring Drawing Tours and drawing workshops for everyone to join, ensuring that every visitor can enjoy a profound and unforgettable artistic journey.