About us

For decades, we have supported professionals and students in researching the visual arts of the Low Countries. 
 
As a knowledge centre, we manage, make accessible, and connect our extensive physical and digital collection. This collection consist of rich resources, such as hundreds of archives and an extensive image database containing millions of images, spanning from the late Middle Ages to the present day. These resources are carefully collected, preserved, evaluated, and expanded by our staff. We offer high-quality, digitally accessible data and services that support your art historical research. 
 
Easily start your research online using the RKD Research website. Of course, you are also very welcome in our study room and library in The Hague. Whether you’re working remotely or visiting us in person, our staff are on hand to answer your questions. 

We maintain close ties with museums, universities, and heritage institutions both in the Netherlands and abroad. In this way, we bring together expertise from across the field of art history. 

The RKD is the starting point for your art historical research. 

Mission & vision

The RKD provides worldwide access to knowledge, research and information about Netherlandish art in an international context, to museums, academic community and general public alike.

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The RKD aims for continued growth as an art historical knowledge centre operating internationally within the field of visual arts of the Netherlands, facilitating primary art historical research. In doing so, our focus is on enhancing digital accessibility. We enable new forms of research and collaboration, which can be executed in a more efficient and effective manner.