Nederlands Fotomuseum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The Nederlands Fotomuseum was founded in 2003 by merging three institutions – the Nederlands Foto Instituut, the Nederlands Fotoarchief and the national photo restoration studio. This was made possible above all by a bequest from amateur photographer Hein Wertheimer, which went toward establishing a photography museum through the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds; the Ministry of Culture and the city of Rotterdam also contributed.

Initially housed on Witte de Withstraat, the museum moved in 2007 to the Las Palmas building on the Wilhelminakade. In 2023, with support from the Stichting Droom en Daad, it was able to acquire the Santos warehouse on the edge of the Rijnhaven. Built in 1901–1902, the building originally stored coffee from the Brazilian port city of Santos and has been a national monument since 2000. After a conversion that kept the historic structure and modern additions clearly separate, the museum opened there on February 7, 2026.

The collection comprises some 6.5 million photographic objects – negatives, slides, prints and digital images from early daguerreotypes to the present – and is considered one of the largest in the world. In the new building, alongside temporary exhibitions, visitors will find the “Eregalerij van de Nederlandse Fotografie” (Hall of Fame of Dutch Photography), open storage and restoration studios behind glass, a large photobook library and a darkroom for workshops.

Highlights

• Eregalerij van de Nederlandse Fotografie with 99 key images since 1842
• Open storage and studios: a look behind the scenes of restoration
• Collection of some 6.5 million photographic objects
• Listed Santos coffee warehouse on the Rijnhaven
• Restaurant ZES with panoramic views on the seventh floor
• Photobook library and analog passport photo booth on the first floor

Permanent exhibitions

• Eregalerij van de Nederlandse Fotografie – 99 photographs of particular social and artistic significance tell the story of photography in the Netherlands from 1842 to the present.
• Open depots en Open ateliers – Behind glass walls, parts of the collection can be seen, as well as specialists cataloging and restoring analog photos; every quarter, thirty objects from the climate-controlled storage are put on display.

Founded

2003

Director

Zippora Elders

Admission & discounts

Free with the Museumkaart; also free with the VriendenLoterij VIP card, Rotterdampas, Rembrandtkaart, ICOM and for fans, friends and ambassadors of the museum. The FAQ lists €10 for ages 18 to 25, the visitor page €10.50. The ticket is also valid for Restaurant ZES.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair-accessible elevators with easy-to-reach buttons and automatic doors; wheelchair-accessible restrooms in the basement and on the seventh floor. Loan wheelchair at the ticket desk, reservation recommended. Four lockers for wheelchair users on the first floor next to the shop. Nearest accessible parking space opposite on Bananenstraat. Guided tours and educational programs for groups with disabilities by arrangement.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Children and young people up to age 17 get free admission. During school holidays there are workshops and activities for young people.

Getting there & parking

Plenty of bike racks right in front of the building.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Koffiebar Santos on the first floor (Tue–Sun 11:00–17:00, no ticket required); Restaurant ZES on the seventh floor with panoramic views (Fri–Sun, museum ticket required, sometimes closed in summer). Unattended cloakroom and lockers in the basement; bags larger than A4 must go in a locker. Photobook library and analog passport photo booth.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

The ZES restaurant space, with panoramic views over Rotterdam, can be set up as a theater-style or conference room for corporate events.

Plan your visit