The focal points of these collections are sources originating from Jewish and Christian minorities from the 13th to the 20th century, mainly from Amsterdam. They tell us about how they lived, what customs they had and how they viewed the world. Each of these groups had a strong individual identity that was reflected in texts and images. The collections of books, prints and manuscripts in the section on spiritual life were formed around and by these groups.
Collecting areas
This collecting area is covered by the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana, which houses the vast majority of the University Library's collections in the field of Jewish culture and history. The library now comprises about 120,000 manuscript and printed sources.
Religious printing has always been one of the University Library's focal points. Extensive loans include the libraries of the Verenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente Amsterdam, the Remonstrantse Gemeente Amsterdam, the Evangelisch Luthers Seminarium and the Begijnhof Amsterdam.
In 2020, the State Collection of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica was added to the Allard Pierson's collection as a long-term loan. This is a unique collection of around 4,400 rare manuscripts and printed works from the Hermetic tradition in Europe up to around 1900.
