Rijksmuseum van Oudheden

Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (National Museum of Antiquities) in Leiden houses archaeological collections from Egypt, the Classical world, the Near East, and the Netherlands. It is a university-linked national museum focused on material culture from ancient civilizations.

Egyptian mummies and coffins, Classical sculpture and pottery, and archaeological finds that document prehistoric and medieval occupation in the Low Countries. Exhibits are arranged to show cultural development and archaeological context.

The museum was established in 1818 in connection with Leiden University and the early professionalisation of archaeology in the Netherlands. Its collections have grown through excavations, donations, and acquisitions over two centuries.

Located in the historic centre of Leiden, the museum is positioned among university buildings and canal-side streets typical of the city.

• Founding year: Founded in 1818, the museum grew out of the early 19th-century archaeological program at Leiden University and is one of the Netherlands' oldest archaeology museums.

What to See #

• Egyptian department: Extensive holdings of Egyptian antiquities including mummies, coffins, and funerary objects that illustrate ancient Egyptian burial practices.
• Classical antiquities: Collections of Greek and Roman sculpture and pottery that document Classical art and archaeology from the Mediterranean world.
• Dutch prehistory and protohistory: Displays and finds covering prehistoric and medieval archaeology from the Netherlands, tracing human occupation and material culture in the region.