Zippora Elders Tahalele Named Director of Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam

Zippora Elders Tahalele will assume the position of general and artistic director at the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam starting April 13. Her appointment follows the dismissal of former director Birgit Donker, who was placed on administrative leave in June and subsequently dismissed in July after an investigation into allegations of fostering a toxic work environment. Roderick van der Lee has served as interim director during the transition. Elders brings extensive curatorial experience, having worked as senior curator at the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven and previously holding roles at Gropius Bau in Berlin, Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen, and Foam in Amsterdam. She also co-curated Sonsbeek 20>24 in Arnhem. Wanda van Kerkvoorden, chair of the supervisory board, described Elders as a representative of a new generation bringing fresh leadership to the cultural sector, emphasizing her ambition to collaborate with the team and partners to enhance the museum's artistic programming and strengthen the international presence of both the institution and Dutch photography. The museum will soon relocate to the Santos warehouse in Rotterdam, where Elders will lead the team in realizing these goals. Elders holds degrees in art history and heritage studies with a specialization in museum curation from the University of Amsterdam and VU University in Amsterdam. A correction was issued on February 5, 2026, clarifying the timeline of Donker's departure.