The Nederlands fotomuseum in Rotterdam administers a multifaceted collection of negatives, transparencies and prints by more than eighty Dutch photographers. The photographs present a lively image of the social developments that took place in the 20th century. In addition, they illustrate the artistic evolution and technical development of photography.

The photographers represented in the collection worked as freelancers or on a commission basis, in and outside the Netherlands. Their clients included the media, theatre companies, fashion houses, industry and the public sector. In their photographs they recorded major and minor events, the military coup and breakfast in the early 20th century.

Major subjects in the collection are:

• the Flood disaster of 1953
• the Delta works
• the German Occupation of the Netherlands
• the Decolonization in Indonesia
• amateur photography
• the most important photographic trends, e.g. the New Photography
• various kinds of professional photography like architectural-, anthropological-, natural- and industrial photography as well as press and reportage photography.

New prints or scans can be ordered for various professional purposes. Private individuals may also order a new print on payment of a minimum of €186 plus VAT.

The Nederlands fotomuseum is the national centre of expertise for photography. Through presentations, publications, education, debate, research, opening up collections, preservation, restoration and other activities, the museum aims at:

• drawing attention to current developments in photography
• deepening reflection on the medium
• further mapping out the history of photography
• increasing knowledge of the administration and preservation of photographs and putting that knowledge to use on behalf of the Fotocollectie Nederland (Netherlands Photography Collection).