Rijksmuseum Object Details API

openapi: 3.0.3
info:
  title: Rijksmuseum Collection Object Details API
  version: 1.0.0
  description: "The Rijksmuseum Collection API exposes the Dutch national museum's collection\nof more than 800,000 object records (with public-domain web images for over\n600,000 of them) through a JSON / JSON-P / XML REST interface. Three\noperations are provided:\n\n* **Search the collection** — list paginated, language-localised result\n  pages with rich filters (maker, type, material, technique, century,\n  dominant colour, image availability, top-piece flag) using the same\n  filtering vocabulary as the museum's own advanced-search page.\n* **Get collection object details** — return the full record for a single\n  object (title, descriptions, principal maker biography, dating,\n  dimensions, materials, techniques, Iconclass classification, colours,\n  bilingual plaque text, acquisition history, exhibitions, web image).\n* **Get collection image tiles** — return a multi-level tile pyramid for an\n  object's web image so consumers can offer the same deep-zoom experience\n  used on rijksmuseum.nl.\n\nResponses are localised through the `culture` path parameter (`nl` for\nDutch, `en` for English). Every request must carry a `key` query parameter\nholding the caller's API key, which is issued instantly upon registering a\nfree Rijksstudio account.\n"
  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
security:
- ApiKeyQuery: []
tags:
- name: Object Details
  description: Retrieve the full record for a single object.
paths:
  /{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':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/RateLimited'
components:
  parameters:
    Format:
      name: format
      in: query
      required: false
      description: Response format. `json` is the default; `jsonp` requires a `callback` parameter; `xml` is also offered.
      schema:
        type: string
        enum:
        - json
        - jsonp
        - xml
        default: json
        example: json
    Culture:
      name: culture
      in: path
      required: true
      description: Locale for both the query semantics and the response content (`nl` Dutch, `en` English).
      schema:
        type: string
        enum:
        - nl
        - en
        example: en
    ApiKey:
      name: key
      in: query
      required: true
      description: The caller's Rijksstudio API key.
      schema:
        type: string
        pattern: ^[A-Za-z0-9]+$
        example: 0fiuZxBwf
  schemas:
    ColorWeight:
      type: object
      properties:
        percentage:
          type: integer
          example: 81
        hex:
          type: string
          example: '#261808'
    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'
    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
    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
    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
    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
    CollectionObjectResponse:
      type: object
      description: Full art-object record returned by the details endpoint.
      properties:
        elapsedMilliseconds:
          type: integer
          example: 219
        artObject:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/ArtObject'
    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
    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
    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
    ColorNormalization:
      type: object
      properties:
        originalHex:
          type: string
          example: '#261808'
        normalizedHex:
          type: string
          example: '#000000'
    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
    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.
  responses:
    RateLimited:
      description: Daily quota or short-window rate limit exceeded.
      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'
    Unauthorized:
      description: Missing or invalid API key.
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
  examples:
    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
  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.

        '