About the collection
The Allard Pierson manages a vast collection of maps and atlases. Not surprising, since in the 17th century Amsterdam was the cartographic capital of the world, seen from the Western perspective. The map collections of the Allard Pierson are among the largest in the Netherlands and among the larger ones in the world.
The Allard Pierson's storage facility holds around 135,000 single maps, 6,000 atlases and a number of globes. An important part of the collection is the library and map collection of the Royal Dutch Geographical Society (KNAG), which was given on loan in 1880.
The collection broadly reflects the history of Western, especially Dutch, cartography up to the present day. Many hundreds of maps are classed as unique or very rare.
Highlights
- Muller collection: predominantly Dutch atlas maps from the 16th to 19th centuries
- Dutch atlases from the 17th and 18th centuries
- Atlas der Neederlanden (Atlas of the Netherlands)
- Maps of Amsterdam
Search in the collection
The collection is unlocked in the online catalogue CataloguePlus. The image bank contains a representative selection from the cartographic collections.
The Map Room Manual Library contains periodicals, reference works, study books, bibliographies and printed catalogues on maps, mapmakers and the (history of) historical cartography.
Contact person
- Margriet Hoogvliet
Jansonius curator
Send an e-mail: m.hoogvliet@uva.nl
UvA-profile: To the UvA staff page
Support the Allard Pierson
Your contribution makes it possible to acquire, expand and restore collections, to undertake research into the collections, develop educational programmes and present them to tens of thousands of visitors a year. Can we count you in?
