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Nederlands Fotomuseum Opens New State-of-the-Art Home in Rotterdam's Santos Warehouse

institutional · 2026-04-19

On 7 February 2026, the Nederlands Fotomuseum will open its doors at the newly renovated Santos warehouse in Rotterdam, prompted by the need for additional space for its extensive collection of over 6.5 million photographic items. The nine-story facility includes exhibition areas, a library, a bookshop, educational studios, community spaces, and a darkroom. The inaugural exhibitions will feature 'Rotterdam in Focus' and 'Awakening in Blue.' Designed by MAISON the FAUX, the building allows the public to observe depots and conservation studios. Support from the Droom en Daad Foundation aims to bolster the global standing of Dutch photography, while the historical context of the Santos warehouse will shape curatorial decisions. The collection is expected to grow to 7.5 million items by 2028.

Key facts

  • Nederlands Fotomuseum opened new location at Santos warehouse in Rotterdam on 7 February 2026
  • Collection contains over 6.5 million photographic objects, projected to reach 7.5 million by 2028
  • Inaugural exhibitions: 'Rotterdam in Focus' (1843-present) and 'Awakening in Blue' (cyanotype)
  • Building features glass walls revealing depots and conservation studios to public
  • Supported by Droom en Daad Foundation
  • Santos warehouse originally stored coffee from Brazil, linking to colonial histories
  • Gallery of Honour includes works by Anton Corbijn, Ed van der Elsken, Rineke Dijkstra
  • Visitors can select 100th photograph for Gallery of Honour through participatory process

Entities

Artists

  • Anton Corbijn
  • Ed van der Elsken
  • Rineke Dijkstra
  • Kassian Céphas
  • Augusta Curiel
  • Sanne de Wilde
  • Viviane Sassen
  • Suzette Bousema
  • Emma Jacob
  • Martijn van den Broek
  • Grace Wong-Si-Kwie

Institutions

  • Nederlands Fotomuseum
  • Droom en Daad Foundation
  • MAISON the FAUX
  • Aesthetica Magazine

Locations

  • Rotterdam
  • Netherlands
  • Brazil

Sources