Restoration and Research

Provenance research

The Second World War still casts a shadow over museum art collections. For more than twenty years, the Mauritshuis has been investigating whether there is any art looted by the Nazis in its collection.

Between 1933 and 1945, the Nazis acquired artworks on a huge scale by theft, confiscation or forced sales. Jewish art collectors were the main victims of these crimes. Depending on the circumstances, objects auctioned, sold privately or deposited for safekeeping during the war may also be regarded as looted art. The Dutch government’s restitutions policy is intended to return works of art involuntarily surrendered between 1933 and 1945 to the rightful owners or their heirs.

During the provenance investigation, the museum made a great effort to fill gaps in the provenance history in the period from 1933-1945 as far as possible. Long-term loans were also included in this investigation. The provenance of all objects is stated on this website. If you have anything to add to the provenance information mentioned, please contact us.

NK collection and restitution

Broadly speaking, looted art in Dutch museums falls into two categories. They may be works of art sent back to the Netherlands from Germany by the Allies, or objects acquired by museums from 1933 onwards...

Acquisitions since 1933

As part of the Museum Acquisitions project undertaken by the Netherlands Museums Association, the Mauritshuis has examined the provenance of all acquisitions since 1933—more than two hundred items.

Ongoing Research

In recent years the Mauritshuis has tried hard to fill gaps in the provenances of objects in its collection relating to the 1933-45 period.