Collection Details API

openapi: 3.0.3
info:
  title: Rijksmuseum Collection API
  version: "1.0.0"
  description: |
    The Rijksmuseum Collection API exposes the Dutch national museum's collection
    of more than 800,000 object records (with public-domain web images for over
    600,000 of them) through a JSON / JSON-P / XML REST interface. Three
    operations are provided:

    * **Search the collection** — list paginated, language-localised result
      pages with rich filters (maker, type, material, technique, century,
      dominant colour, image availability, top-piece flag) using the same
      filtering vocabulary as the museum's own advanced-search page.
    * **Get collection object details** — return the full record for a single
      object (title, descriptions, principal maker biography, dating,
      dimensions, materials, techniques, Iconclass classification, colours,
      bilingual plaque text, acquisition history, exhibitions, web image).
    * **Get collection image tiles** — return a multi-level tile pyramid for an
      object's web image so consumers can offer the same deep-zoom experience
      used on rijksmuseum.nl.

    Responses are localised through the `culture` path parameter (`nl` for
    Dutch, `en` for English). Every request must carry a `key` query parameter
    holding the caller's API key, which is issued instantly upon registering a
    free Rijksstudio account.
  termsOfService: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/data/policy
  contact:
    name: Rijksmuseum Research Services
    url: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/research/conduct-research/contact-form
  license:
    name: Public Domain (most object images) / CC-BY (modern works) — see Data Policy
    url: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/data/policy
  x-generated-from: documentation
  x-source-url: https://data.rijksmuseum.nl/object-metadata/api/
  x-last-validated: "2026-05-29"
  x-api-evangelist-pipeline: opensource
servers:
  - url: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/api
    description: Production
tags:
  - name: Collection
    description: Search and browse the Rijksmuseum collection.
  - name: Object Details
    description: Retrieve the full record for a single object.
  - name: Images
    description: Deep-zoom tile pyramids for object web images.
security:
  - ApiKeyQuery: []
paths:
  /{culture}/collection:
    get:
      operationId: searchCollection
      summary: Search The Rijksmuseum Collection
      description: |
        Returns a paginated list of objects in the Rijksmuseum collection. All
        filter parameters mirror the museum's advanced search experience.
        Pagination is capped so that `p * ps` cannot exceed 10,000 results — use
        the [OAI-PMH harvesting API](https://data.rijksmuseum.nl/object-metadata/harvest/)
        for full-corpus access.
      tags: [Collection]
      x-microcks-operation:
        delay: 0
        dispatcher: FALLBACK
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Culture'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/ApiKey'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Format'
        - name: p
          in: query
          description: Result page number (0-based). `p * ps` cannot exceed 10,000.
          required: false
          schema:
            type: integer
            minimum: 0
            default: 0
            example: 0
        - name: ps
          in: query
          description: Number of results per page.
          required: false
          schema:
            type: integer
            minimum: 1
            maximum: 100
            default: 10
            example: 10
        - name: q
          in: query
          description: Free-text search terms applied across object fields.
          required: false
          schema:
            type: string
            example: nachtwacht
        - name: involvedMaker
          in: query
          description: Restrict to objects produced by this maker (e.g. `Rembrandt van Rijn`).
          required: false
          schema:
            type: string
            example: Rembrandt van Rijn
        - name: type
          in: query
          description: Object type (e.g. `schilderij`, `prent`).
          required: false
          schema:
            type: string
            example: schilderij
        - name: material
          in: query
          description: Material used to make the object (e.g. `doek`, `papier`).
          required: false
          schema:
            type: string
            example: doek
        - name: technique
          in: query
          description: Technique used to produce the object (e.g. `olieverf`, `ets`).
          required: false
          schema:
            type: string
            example: olieverf
        - name: f.dating.period
          in: query
          description: Century in which the object was made (0–21).
          required: false
          schema:
            type: integer
            minimum: 0
            maximum: 21
            example: 17
        - name: f.normalized32Colors.hex
          in: query
          description: |
            Filter on the dominant colour palette (32-colour normalised). The
            literal `#` must be URL-encoded as `%23`.
          required: false
          schema:
            type: string
            pattern: '^#?[0-9A-Fa-f]{6}$'
            example: "#000000"
        - name: imgonly
          in: query
          description: Only return objects that have an image.
          required: false
          schema:
            type: boolean
            default: false
            example: true
        - name: toppieces
          in: query
          description: Only return objects flagged as top pieces.
          required: false
          schema:
            type: boolean
            default: false
            example: false
        - name: s
          in: query
          description: Sort order applied to the result set.
          required: false
          schema:
            type: string
            enum:
              - relevance
              - objecttype
              - chronologic
              - achronologic
              - artist
              - artistdesc
            example: chronologic
      responses:
        "200":
          description: A paginated page of art-object summaries matching the filters.
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/CollectionSearchResponse'
              examples:
                rembrandt:
                  $ref: '#/components/examples/SearchRembrandtVanRijn'
        "401":
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
        "429":
          $ref: '#/components/responses/RateLimited'

  /{culture}/collection/{objectNumber}:
    get:
      operationId: getCollectionObject
      summary: Get Collection Object Details
      description: |
        Returns the full record for a single object identified by its
        case-sensitive `objectNumber` (e.g. `SK-C-5` for *The Night Watch*).
        Object numbers are obtained from the search response.
      tags: [Object Details]
      x-microcks-operation:
        delay: 0
        dispatcher: FALLBACK
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Culture'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/ApiKey'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Format'
        - name: objectNumber
          in: path
          required: true
          description: Case-sensitive object identifier (e.g. `SK-C-5`).
          schema:
            type: string
            pattern: '^[A-Za-z0-9-]+$'
            example: SK-C-5
      responses:
        "200":
          description: Full art-object record for the requested identifier.
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/CollectionObjectResponse'
              examples:
                nightwatch:
                  $ref: '#/components/examples/GetNightWatch'
        "401":
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
        "404":
          $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound'
        "429":
          $ref: '#/components/responses/RateLimited'

  /{culture}/collection/{objectNumber}/tiles:
    get:
      operationId: getCollectionObjectTiles
      summary: Get Collection Object Image Tiles
      description: |
        Returns the tile-pyramid description for an object's web image. The
        response contains one entry per zoom level (`z0`–`z6`, where `z0` is
        the largest resolution and `z6` is the smallest), and each level
        carries a list of image tiles with x/y coordinates and a CDN URL.

        This endpoint only supports the JSON response format.
      tags: [Images]
      x-microcks-operation:
        delay: 0
        dispatcher: FALLBACK
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Culture'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/ApiKey'
        - name: objectNumber
          in: path
          required: true
          description: Case-sensitive object identifier (e.g. `SK-C-5`).
          schema:
            type: string
            pattern: '^[A-Za-z0-9-]+$'
            example: SK-C-5
      responses:
        "200":
          description: Tile pyramid for the requested object's web image.
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/ImageTilesResponse'
              examples:
                nightwatchTiles:
                  $ref: '#/components/examples/GetNightWatchTiles'
        "401":
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
        "404":
          $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound'
        "429":
          $ref: '#/components/responses/RateLimited'

components:
  securitySchemes:
    ApiKeyQuery:
      type: apiKey
      in: query
      name: key
      description: |
        Free API key issued on creating a Rijksstudio account at
        https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/rijksstudio. The key is available from the
        account's advanced settings.

  parameters:
    Culture:
      name: culture
      in: path
      required: true
      description: Locale for both the query semantics and the response content (`nl` Dutch, `en` English).
      schema:
        type: string
        enum: [nl, en]
        example: en
    ApiKey:
      name: key
      in: query
      required: true
      description: The caller's Rijksstudio API key.
      schema:
        type: string
        pattern: '^[A-Za-z0-9]+$'
        example: 0fiuZxBwf
    Format:
      name: format
      in: query
      required: false
      description: Response format. `json` is the default; `jsonp` requires a `callback` parameter; `xml` is also offered.
      schema:
        type: string
        enum: [json, jsonp, xml]
        default: json
        example: json

  responses:
    Unauthorized:
      description: Missing or invalid API key.
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
    NotFound:
      description: The requested object number could not be found.
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
    RateLimited:
      description: Daily quota or short-window rate limit exceeded.
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'

  schemas:
    CollectionSearchResponse:
      type: object
      description: A page of summary art-object records.
      required: [count, artObjects]
      properties:
        elapsedMilliseconds:
          type: integer
          description: Server-side query time in milliseconds.
          example: 0
        count:
          type: integer
          description: Total number of objects matching the query (across all pages).
          example: 3491
        artObjects:
          type: array
          description: The art-object summaries for this page.
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ArtObjectSummary'

    ArtObjectSummary:
      type: object
      description: Lightweight art-object record returned by the search endpoint.
      properties:
        links:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/ArtObjectLinks'
        id:
          type: string
          description: Globally unique identifier including culture prefix.
          example: nl-SK-C-5
        objectNumber:
          type: string
          description: Rijksmuseum inventory number.
          example: SK-C-5
        title:
          type: string
          description: Short title in the requested culture.
          example: De Nachtwacht
        hasImage:
          type: boolean
          example: true
        principalOrFirstMaker:
          type: string
          description: Display name of the principal or first maker.
          example: Rembrandt van Rijn
        longTitle:
          type: string
          description: Long form title including maker and date.
          example: De Nachtwacht, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642
        showImage:
          type: boolean
          example: true
        permitDownload:
          type: boolean
          example: true
        webImage:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/WebImage'
        headerImage:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/WebImage'
        productionPlaces:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
          example: [Amsterdam]

    ArtObjectLinks:
      type: object
      description: Hypermedia links for an art object.
      properties:
        self:
          type: string
          format: uri
          example: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/api/nl/collection/SK-C-5
        web:
          type: string
          format: uri
          example: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/collectie/SK-C-5
        search:
          type: string
          format: uri
          description: Present on detail responses; points back to the collection search base.
          example: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/api/nl/collection

    WebImage:
      type: object
      description: Reference to a CDN-hosted web image with offset and size metadata.
      properties:
        guid:
          type: string
          example: aa08df9c-0af9-4195-b31b-f578fbe0a4c9
        offsetPercentageX:
          type: integer
          example: 0
        offsetPercentageY:
          type: integer
          example: 1
        width:
          type: integer
          example: 2500
        height:
          type: integer
          example: 2034
        url:
          type: string
          format: uri
          example: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/J-mxAE7CPu-DXIOx4QKBtb0GC4ud37da1QK7CzbTIDswmvZHXhLm4Tv2-1H3iBXJWAW_bHm7dMl3j5wv_XiWAg55VOM=s0

    CollectionObjectResponse:
      type: object
      description: Full art-object record returned by the details endpoint.
      properties:
        elapsedMilliseconds:
          type: integer
          example: 219
        artObject:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/ArtObject'

    ArtObject:
      type: object
      description: Full Rijksmuseum art-object record.
      properties:
        links:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/ArtObjectLinks'
        id:
          type: string
          example: nl-SK-C-5
        priref:
          type: string
          example: "5216"
        objectNumber:
          type: string
          example: SK-C-5
        language:
          type: string
          enum: [nl, en]
          example: nl
        title:
          type: string
          example: De Nachtwacht
        copyrightHolder:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        webImage:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/WebImage'
        colors:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ColorWeight'
        colorsWithNormalization:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ColorNormalization'
        normalizedColors:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ColorWeight'
        normalized32Colors:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ColorWeight'
        titles:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
        description:
          type: string
          description: Long-form curatorial description (in the requested culture).
        labelText:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        objectTypes:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
          example: [schilderij]
        objectCollection:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
          example: [schilderijen]
        makers:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Maker'
        principalMakers:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Maker'
        plaqueDescriptionDutch:
          type: string
        plaqueDescriptionEnglish:
          type: string
        principalMaker:
          type: string
          example: Rembrandt van Rijn
        artistRole:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        associations:
          type: array
          items:
            type: object
        acquisition:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Acquisition'
        exhibitions:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Exhibition'
        materials:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
          example: [doek, olieverf]
        techniques:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
        productionPlaces:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
          example: [Amsterdam]
        dating:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Dating'
        classification:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Classification'
        hasImage:
          type: boolean
          example: true
        historicalPersons:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
        inscriptions:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
        documentation:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
        catRefRPK:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
        principalOrFirstMaker:
          type: string
        dimensions:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Dimension'
        physicalProperties:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
        physicalMedium:
          type: string
          example: olieverf op doek
        longTitle:
          type: string
        subTitle:
          type: string
          example: "h 379,5cm × b 453,5cm × g 337kg"
        scLabelLine:
          type: string
        label:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Label'
        showImage:
          type: boolean
        location:
          type: string
          description: Current location code within the museum.
          example: HG-2.31

    Maker:
      type: object
      description: A person or entity who contributed to the production of the object.
      properties:
        name:
          type: string
          example: Rembrandt van Rijn
        unFixedName:
          type: string
          example: Rijn, Rembrandt van
        placeOfBirth:
          type: string
          example: Leiden
        dateOfBirth:
          type: string
          example: "1606-07-15"
        dateOfBirthPrecision:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        dateOfDeath:
          type: string
          example: "1669-10-08"
        dateOfDeathPrecision:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        placeOfDeath:
          type: string
          example: Amsterdam
        occupation:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
          example: [prentmaker, tekenaar, schilder]
        roles:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
          example: [schilder]
        nationality:
          type: string
          example: Noord-Nederlands
        biography:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        productionPlaces:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
          example: [Amsterdam]
        qualification:
          type: string
          nullable: true

    Acquisition:
      type: object
      description: How and when the object entered the Rijksmuseum collection.
      properties:
        method:
          type: string
          example: bruikleen
        date:
          type: string
          example: "1808-01-01T00:00:00"
        creditLine:
          type: string
          example: Bruikleen van de gemeente Amsterdam

    Exhibition:
      type: object
      description: Past or upcoming exhibition that has featured this object.
      properties:
        title:
          type: string
        startDate:
          type: string
        endDate:
          type: string
        location:
          type: string

    Dating:
      type: object
      description: Date range and century context for the object's production.
      properties:
        presentingDate:
          type: string
          example: "1642"
        sortingDate:
          type: integer
          example: 1642
        period:
          type: integer
          description: Century (0–21).
          example: 17
        yearEarly:
          type: integer
          example: 1642
        yearLate:
          type: integer
          example: 1642

    Classification:
      type: object
      description: Subject classification using Iconclass and related vocabularies.
      properties:
        iconClassIdentifier:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
          example: ["45(+26)"]
        iconClassDescription:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
        motifs:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
        events:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string
        objectNumbers:
          type: array
          items:
            type: string

    Dimension:
      type: object
      description: Physical dimension entry (height, width, weight, etc.).
      properties:
        unit:
          type: string
          example: cm
        type:
          type: string
          example: hoogte
        part:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        value:
          type: string
          example: "379,5"

    Label:
      type: object
      description: Curatorial label text for display.
      properties:
        title:
          type: string
        makerLine:
          type: string
        description:
          type: string
        notes:
          type: string
        date:
          type: string
          example: "2019-07-05"

    ColorWeight:
      type: object
      properties:
        percentage:
          type: integer
          example: 81
        hex:
          type: string
          example: "#261808"

    ColorNormalization:
      type: object
      properties:
        originalHex:
          type: string
          example: "#261808"
        normalizedHex:
          type: string
          example: "#000000"

    ImageTilesResponse:
      type: object
      description: Tile pyramid description for an object's web image.
      properties:
        levels:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ImageTileLevel'

    ImageTileLevel:
      type: object
      description: One zoom level of the tile pyramid.
      properties:
        name:
          type: string
          description: Level name. `z0` is largest; `z6` is smallest.
          example: z3
        width:
          type: integer
          example: 1771
        height:
          type: integer
          example: 1441
        tiles:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ImageTile'

    ImageTile:
      type: object
      description: A single tile in the pyramid.
      properties:
        x:
          type: integer
          example: 2
        y:
          type: integer
          example: 2
        url:
          type: string
          format: uri

    Error:
      type: object
      description: Standard error payload (shape inferred from API responses).
      properties:
        statusCode:
          type: integer
          example: 401
        message:
          type: string
          example: Invalid API key.

  examples:
    SearchRembrandtVanRijn:
      summary: Search by maker — Rembrandt van Rijn
      value:
        elapsedMilliseconds: 0
        count: 3491
        artObjects:
          - links:
              self: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/api/nl/collection/SK-C-5
              web: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/collectie/SK-C-5
            id: nl-SK-C-5
            objectNumber: SK-C-5
            title: De Nachtwacht
            hasImage: true
            principalOrFirstMaker: Rembrandt van Rijn
            longTitle: De Nachtwacht, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642
            showImage: true
            permitDownload: true
            webImage:
              guid: aa08df9c-0af9-4195-b31b-f578fbe0a4c9
              offsetPercentageX: 0
              offsetPercentageY: 1
              width: 2500
              height: 2034
              url: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/J-mxAE7CPu-DXIOx4QKBtb0GC4ud37da1QK7CzbTIDswmvZHXhLm4Tv2-1H3iBXJWAW_bHm7dMl3j5wv_XiWAg55VOM=s0
            productionPlaces: [Amsterdam]
    GetNightWatch:
      summary: Get *The Night Watch* (SK-C-5) details
      value:
        elapsedMilliseconds: 219
        artObject:
          id: nl-SK-C-5
          priref: "5216"
          objectNumber: SK-C-5
          language: nl
          title: De Nachtwacht
          principalMaker: Rembrandt van Rijn
          principalOrFirstMaker: Rembrandt van Rijn
          objectTypes: [schilderij]
          materials: [doek, olieverf]
          productionPlaces: [Amsterdam]
          dating:
            presentingDate: "1642"
            sortingDate: 1642
            period: 17
            yearEarly: 1642
            yearLate: 1642
          longTitle: De Nachtwacht, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642
          physicalMedium: olieverf op doek
          subTitle: "h 379,5cm × b 453,5cm × g 337kg"
          hasImage: true
          showImage: true
          location: HG-2.31
    GetNightWatchTiles:
      summary: Tile pyramid for *The Night Watch*
      value:
        levels:
          - name: z3
            width: 1771
            height: 1441
            tiles:
              - x: 2
                y: 2
                url: http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I1HN0VxmDySYN5oCqaykuTRukdFh-JemILAmTvHtGsGnBm968CiQpxkfgqQZnbKD5bS1m0tGZYx7v8HFnWjE3kizw=s0
          - name: z4
            width: 885
            height: 720
            tiles:
              - x: 1
                y: 0
                url: http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fBdzIPG0qlGnIkqKUFaX3dAiEnC9jnfCIR9ib32M1xh7bPHuK6ZTJMxgwn8jYsvymdupCFdtm3vHJg-n10JuhBD7w=s0